Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole questioned Tottenham's transfer business after their spend of about £302m.

After Sandro Tonali, £85m went on bringing in Mateus Fernandes from West Ham. The Portuguese midfielder was subbed at half-time and Roberto de Zerbi said he "didn't like" Fernandes' performance, while £75m was spent on Savio from Manchester City.

Omar Marmoush will cost £60m once his loan becomes permanent, but Spurs need their big-money buys to prove their worth and perform sooner rather than later.

"Spurs are dominant, chances, and you felt the tension growing - all of a sudden Spurs were just wanting to get to half-time. Once you defend with anxiety, things happen," Cole told TNT.

"When these things go against you, they go against you. Van de Ven going off was a factor, they didn't deal with it well. When you are anxious you make rash decisions.

"Villa defended well but didn't deserve to go in a goal up, and then this place deflated.

"They are not picking up points, a club flirting with relegation two years in a row, I feel they have overpaid for every player they bought this summer - you can't rule them out from being in and around the relegation battle."

De Zerbi, though, defended Tottenham's summer window spending despite their current malaise.