With reports widespread of a £105 million deal having been bid for Gareth Bale, I look at the possible personnel and other things we could spend it on.
A Replacement
Crucial to Dortmund’s success in the Champions league last year Marco Reus could be everything we need to appease the loss of the 3rd best player in the world. Not a like for like, the German 24 year old has lots of skills, pace and flair and creates as well as converts. A free kick specialist more in the technique of Beckham than Ronaldo he is the missing link Spurs have been crying out for. Another alternative could be blistering Argentinian Erik Lamela who scored 15 in 33 last season as well as possessing similar talented dribbling abilities to our Welsh wonder. He would also be available for a fraction of the world record price.
A Playmaker
While many people, myself included had thought that the midfield triumverate of Dembele, Sandro and Paulinho would be ours for next season, it may be subject to change. While robust and brilliant it lacks that inspirational creativity we had with Van der Vaart and Modric. Obviously Bale’s last ditch winners are exhilarating while the sight of him running full tilt fills every fan with ecstasy, but it’s not linked up beautiful Tottenham Hotspur play. The acquisitions of Paulinho and Holtby will help in that respect however Paulinho is a more box to box player with flashes of pure Brazilian outrageousness and Holtby in the U21 German captain and has the potential but is not quite the finished article, he will be more of an impact sub for now for whoever we bring in or Dembele. We also need someone of that mould to provide ammunition to our new Spanish soldier. Those who could take this job on are: Pastore, Pjanic, Gündogan and Christian Erikson.
The Bale replacement and Playmaker will be very important next year.
While under AVB’s system last year we conspired to win more than in previous seasons we played with less style and panache than in previous years. We were based mostly on physicality, speed and speculative rockets from a certain member of our playing staff. We need more brilliant passes, to skin defenders with skill rather than pace, and thread a camel through a needle with a killer ball, to mix with the brilliant long range efforts. The board of Governors must take heed of Danny Blanchflowers immortal words “Football is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom”. These players would bring that and at a price of half what we will sell Bale for which leaves money for other causes. They would also supplement our record signing Soldado well.
The new training ground
The state of the art training ground is the envy of Europe and a major draw for world class players to join the Hotspur revolution. However it cost us £48 million and we could fully pay for that with ease with some of the money from the historic sale.
A Centre Back
After Steven Caulker’s surprise move to Cardiff in a bid to play World Cup football we were left short at the back. However we had a move for Romanian, Steau Bucharest star Vlad Chiriches in the pipeline before it was called off by a Romanian crook. The money from Bale would allow a higher quality of centre back to come in, hopefully to the standard of Vertonghen. A possible name is Toby Alderweirald, Vertonghen’s old partner at Ajax.
A Left back
If Bale had stayed a Rose, Fryers and Assou-Ekotto would have sufficed for the current season but it remains a weak point of the side. A new signing of world class calibre could be afforded e.g. Alaba, Baines for the reported sum. However if we are using more money in other areas a more modest signing could be made in the mould of De la Bella, Kolarov, Aly Cissoko or Schmelzer.
Whatever our notorious chairman decides to do in the summer, if Bale’s transfer does go through for the expected amount we will have a much better balanced and world class squad. We will also have a great chance of Champions league football. I am beginning to lean upon the argument of selling him now, after all as Monaco and Manchester City have shown us, you can buy anyone if the money is right. That is if Daniel doesn’t flout AVB and Baldini’s wishes and decide to spend it all funding the new stadium… COYS
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