Tottenham Hotspur’s season has lurched into immediate trouble, with Roberto De Zerbi facing a mounting crisis after a second straight Premier League defeat and the revelation that three senior players have asked to leave before the transfer window closes.

Spurs were beaten 2-0 at home by Newcastle United on Saturday, following their 3-0 loss at Brentford in the opening round, leaving them with no points and no league goals after two matches. Newcastle struck through Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa, capitalising on another afternoon in which Tottenham’s possession and investment failed to translate into control where it mattered.

The result has sharpened scrutiny on a side rebuilt at speed over the summer. Tottenham had shown a response in midweek by thrashing Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the Carabao Cup, with Mikey Moore, Dominic Solanke, Kevin Danso, Sávio and Ben Davies all on the scoresheet, but the lift from that performance disappeared quickly once Premier League pressure returned. De Zerbi had already warned after the Brentford defeat that his side were not yet a team, and the latest setback reinforced the scale of the work still to be done.

What transformed a damaging defeat into the biggest story in the league on Sunday, however, was De Zerbi’s post-match disclosure over his unsettled squad. The Tottenham head coach confirmed that Richarlison, Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr have each told him they want to leave. Richarlison was omitted from the squad against Newcastle, Danso was also absent after featuring and scoring against Charlton, while Sarr is recovering from a minor hamstring issue.

That trio’s situations now place Tottenham under severe pressure in the final days of the market. Richarlison is an experienced forward option in a squad still searching for goals. Danso’s stance threatens to weaken defensive depth in a team that has already conceded five times in two league matches. Sarr’s request further complicates midfield planning at a point when rhythm and balance are already missing.

De Zerbi has tried to hold a calm line publicly, insisting there is no panic and maintaining faith in the club’s broader plan. Yet the contradiction is stark. Tottenham have spent heavily, turned over significant parts of the squad and spoken throughout the summer about raising standards, only to open the campaign with back-to-back league defeats and a fresh outbreak of instability.