Everton have been docked 10 points for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, Manchester City have 115 charges against them for financial misdeeds and Chelsea are facing serious questioning from the wider footballing world over transactions and dealings under Roman Abramovich.

Tottenham, well Tottenham are running along as usual. Given that they spent hardly a penny in the transfer market when the stadium move was going on, something that Mauricio Pochettino would describe as needing a 'big effort from everyone,' it won't come as a surprise.

Under Daniel Levy, the chairman of the club, running things on a day-to-day basis and now with even more responsibility than before, this is also nothing new. The British businessman has made his stance clear on spending and unlike other sides towards the top of the league he does not bankroll things.

Manchester City are backed by owners from United Arab Emirates, Newcastle have the support of Saudi Arabia, Manchester United are seeking extra investment outside of their enormously wealthy American family at the top of the tree and Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have all gone big under US-based custodians as well.

It is in this landscape that Spurs' relatively small transfer spending lies, especially in comparison with Everton. The Toffees have put over £500million into their squad in recent years but have still been fighting relegation. This has left them in big trouble with the league and now an unprecedented points deduction.

For Spurs Levy has already been open on 'overspending' in the past, as have some of his previous employees. "The landscape of the Premier League has changed significantly in the last decade," he said in February 2023, the same week that City's charges were revealed. "It is understandable that some fans call for more spending, much of which is unsustainable for many clubs.

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"We are competing in a league in which we have seen increased sovereign wealth ownership and consortia finance; and in a league where the spending power is now vested in the hands of a few who dominate and have the ability to distort the market.

"We welcome the changes to the governance of the game which will compel greater financial sustainability and financial fair play (FFP). Major changes have been introduced in Europe around FFP regulations, including the newly-launched UEFA financial sustainability rules, the full impact of which will be felt from season 2025/26.

"They are based on three pillars: solvency, stability and cost control and clubs will have three seasons to adjust to them. Many expect that these new rules will be a game changer for the sport. Even tighter regulations may follow."

It is with this that Everton's punishment comes into view. Despite admitting their breaches the Merseyside club were docked points with the league stating it as a deterrent for others with the possibility for more to follow if City are found guilty of their own misconduct - though the charges themselves are related to different activities that muddy the water.

This points towards bigger sanctions in the future though for those found to have broken regulations and Levy spoke more about these in April. "Well, firstly, there are new UEFA rules coming into effect this season where sustainability is going to become much more paramount in people's minds," he explained in an interview with Cambridge Union. "You will be limited to the amount you can spend on wages and transfer fees to a percentage of your total turnover.

"It's starting off at 90% and, over three years, it's going down to 70%. The impact of that is effectively some form of wage control. Even though clubs have been spending very heavily - if you talk about someone like Chelsea - now the new rules come into effect this summer, you will find, regardless of who is the owner, it's going to have quite an impact on the financing of football."

Levy also opened up on the fact that Spurs would be open to outside investment in order to help the club but ruled out selling despite some cries for him to give up control with preference for wealthier individuals instead. "I've got no real interest to leave Tottenham, but I have a duty to consider anything that anyone may want to propose," he added. "It’s not about me, it’s about what’s right for the club.

"We have 30,000 shareholders who own approximately 13.5 per cent. We run this club as if it is a public company. If anyone wants to make a serious proposition to the board of Tottenham we would consider it, along with our advisers, and if we felt it was in the interests of the club we would be open to anything."

Whereas Spurs are run like a public company they have watched London rivals Chelsea splash over £1billion on new players, taking advantage of UEFA contract loopholes to spread the cost across lengthy periods, therefore reducing yearly spend. The Blues have also been forced to sell off a large part of their squad, recouping more than £250million this summer alone, but the figures are still much larger than anything Tottenham have seen.

Levy's comments did not go down with Pep Guardiola though. Speaking about charges and pushing blame onto league rivals, the Spaniard said in February: "Yeah of course [it was driven by others]. It's the Premier League. You should go to the chairman, the CEOs, Daniel Levy, and ask them."

He added: "Nine teams: Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle, Spurs, Arsenal, [Manchester] United, Liverpool, Chelsea [wanted] us out of the Champions League, because they want that position. To take that position that we won on the pitch."

That was in response to a vote following their expulsion from UEFA events after initially being banned by the governing body in 2020. As Spurs manager three years ago it was Jose Mourinho that answered calls on that topic.

"Consistency I like, clarity. I don't like doubts," he said at the time after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the decision. "That is the only thing that disturbs. My opinion about FFP doesn't change, like my opinion on VAR.

"When I said a few years ago I like the concept, I like the concept. What I don't like is the interpretation of it, the people with the tools they have at their disposal.

"And Financial Fair Play is the same thing. When I say it should finish, it is not because I do not agree with the basic principle. It's because I don't agree with the circus."

Mourinho also said during his time at Tottenham: "In relation to the decision, in any case, it's a disgraceful decision. If Man City is not guilty of it, to be punished by some million is a disgrace. If you're not guilty you're not punished. In the other way, if you're guilty you should be banned. So it's also a disgraceful decision. In any case, it's a disaster.

"If you're not guilty, you don't pay. I'm not saying Man City is guilty. I'm saying if you're not guilty, you don't pay. You are not punished, even with a pound. I know that money is quite easy for them, but it's just a principle. Why are you paying £8-9m if you are not guilty? If they are not guilty, the decision is a disgrace.

"If you are guilty, the decision is also a disgrace. If you're guilty, you should be banned from the competition. My criticism is not for Manchester City. I'm nobody to know if they're guilty or not. My criticism is for the decision."

Luckily for Tottenham they have never had to be at the centre of issues like this and Levy's open plans for the club moving forward aren't likely to see that change. Speaking at a meeting with the Tottenham fan advisory board he reiterated the intention to 'deliver revenues to fund a sustainable, successful football club consistently competing at the top level'.

Balancing this with success on the pitch has always been the goal for Levy and at times whereby the heat has turned up on City and Everton with Chelsea lurking dangerous close in the background, it is surely a relief that Spurs have never come close to crossing that line.