Former Spurs midfielder predicts further misery ahead next season

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Danny Murphy has said that he does not expect the Lilywhites to finish in the top four of the Premier League next season due to the fact there are four teams who are considerably stronger.

Barring a miraculous turnaround, it looks like Spurs are set to miss out on Champions League qualification for the first time in five years next season.

Jose Mourinho’s side have simply given themselves too much to do with five games left to play, particularly considering the form that the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea have been in since the restart.

However, Murphy believes it might take a while yet for Spurs to return to the top table of European football.

He insisted that the North Londoners have too much ground to make up on Chelsea and Manchester United, especially since they cannot match the duo’s spending power in the transfer market.

Speaking to Stadium Astro (as relayed by The Express), Murphy said: “I think United and Chelsea are going to be much, much stronger next season and much more consistent.

“I think it’s going to be hard for Leicester, Arsenal and Tottenham to match United and Chelsea’s spending power and the quality they have in their squad.

“Sometimes you can be wrong with that but it just seems like Chelsea have that lovely balance at the moment, they’re bringing in some more quality, they’ve got those young players.

“United as well have got that balance, a big one for United of course is does [Paul] Pogba stay or go?

“But the young, hungry players at both those clubs suggest to me that they’re going to progress with the quality that they’ve got around them.

“But I think that Liverpool and City, bridging a gap doesn’t happen overnight.

“We were only talking four, maybe five months ago that United were struggling and needing a whole new squad – not quite the case now.

“And Chelsea, nobody gave them a prayer this season of doing well and they’ve progressed more quickly than people anticipated.

“I fancy those two to be closest but not close enough.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Having seen how well United and Chelsea have played since the restart, it is hard to disagree with Murphy that they look far and away, the best of the rest. In fact, I think if they make smart additions, either team could potentially challenge Liverpool and Man City for the title. As things stand, we look at least 3 or 4 players away from challenging the likes of Man Utd, let alone the top two.

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