With the transfer window now fully slammed shut, Tottenham and Antonio Conte have welcomed seven new faces through the door capping off a busy summer.
Adding a mix of first-team players, squad/ rotation options, and future prospects, Spurs’ business has left fans with mixed opinions, so here’s a signing-by-signing breakdown of our summer acquisitions.
Fraser Forster – 6/10
Arriving as our first summer signing, the most accurate way to describe Forster is so-so.
Owing to his Premier League and international experience, he should no doubt be an able deputy to Hugo Lloris, and really that’s all Conte will hope to see from the Englishman.
Whether it may have been better to bring in a younger, potential future number one who could learn from Lloris is certainly up for debate, but this doesn’t detract from Forster being a reliable pickup.
In truth, there’s not a lot to say about Forster, as for a backup keeper who arrived on a free, he looks a fine signing.
Ivan Perisic – 8/10
Of all the players in world football, it’s hard to think of a more Antonio Conte signing than Ivan Perisic.
MORE SPURS STORIES
The Croatian epitomises what Conte looks for in his wingbacks, being a willing runner forward and back, a robust defender, and most of all, a threat in the opposition half.
The duo has previously worked together at Inter Milan, so Conte knows exactly what to expect from Perisic, and the Croatian’s experience of winning trophies will be a welcomed presence in the Spurs dressing room.
Eight goals and seven assists in Serie A last season marked an excellent return, with Perisic already up and running in England with two assists in five league games (Transfermarkt).
At 33, his minutes may have to be managed, but he already looks a step up from Ryan Sessegnon and Sergio Reguilon, and will undoubtedly be first-choice for Tottenham this season.
Yves Bissouma – 8/10
Avid viewers of the Premier League will attest that over the last two seasons, Bissouma has been one of the standout central midfielders in England.
Signing the Malian international for an initial £25 million represents incredible value (Sky Sports), as he will no doubt challenge Bentancur and Hojbjerg for a starting spot in Conte’s side.
It was reported that a number of clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool all held an interest in the midfielder, so securing his services in North London is a real coup and shows we are indeed an attractive project for players.
Granted, his Spurs career thus far has been slow owing to a slight injury, but there’s no doubt once he establishes himself in the side he will quickly return to being one of the league’s best midfielders.
Richarlison – 8.5/10
Love him or hate him, Richarlison is bound to provide some memorable moments in a Spurs shirt.
In his brief 20 minutes against Nottingham Forest, the Brazilian showed exactly why he splits opinions, providing a moment of magic to set up Kane’s second goal only to moments later wind up the crowd and opposition players by showboating. But against Fulham, in his first start for the club, he showed his class across a full 90 minutes.
But personality aside, in his four appearances so far, Richarlison has highlighted why Conte sanctioned a £60 million move for the former Everton man, as his work ethic and running late on has been pivotal in games and helped rescue a point at Chelsea.
Moreover, having a Premier League-proven player able to slot in anywhere across the frontline is a useful asset in a season where we have two games a week, so even if not as a regular starter Richarlison is bound to get minutes.
Trying to put bias aside, I still can’t help but feel Richarlison will soon become a fan-favourite at N17, and if the early signs are anything to go by will surely have a profound impact on the pitch.
Clement Lenglet – 6/10
Prior to the transfer window opening, a left-sided centre-back was a clear priority for Tottenham so in truth, Lenglet’s loan from Barcelona is a little underwhelming.
The defender has had a tough time in Spain, so a change of scene is maybe what’s needed to reinvigorate his career, but fans – including myself, likely had higher hopes than the Frenchman.
That being said, he’s looked more than capable so far, but with no buy option in the deal, you can’t help but feel Lenglet is merely another stopgap until we face this issue again next summer.
I have to say, he looked incredible against Fulham this week and seems to be a great option against low-block sides due to his quality on the ball. His passing out from the back was a big reason behind why Spurs improved in the transition.
If nothing else, he at least offers experience and cover to Ben Davies, who at this point looks to have remained first-choice, but I can’t help but feel a little disappointed with this one.
Djed Spence – 7/10
Perhaps our longest-running rumour of the summer, Spence’s arrival marked the end of a long pursuit for Tottenham.
Helping Nottingham Forest gain promotion, Spence was one of the Championship’s standout performers last season and further impressed in FA Cup ties against Arsenal and Leicester.
Conte has made it clear Spence is more of a Levy signing than his own (Football London), as he would likely have opted for a more experienced player in a position we had identified as a priority at the start of the window.
Nevertheless, for an initial fee of £12.5 million, the Englishman could prove to be a bargain in years to come and from a fan’s point of view looks to be a shrewd addition in terms of future-proofing the side.
Destiny Udogie – 7/10
Like Spence, Udogie also arrives as one for the future, being immediately loaned back to Udinese for the 2022/23 season.
The Italian is presumably the heir to Perisic, and at 14 years the Croatian’s junior and looks to be a real talent at leftwing back.
Last season, Udogie’s five goals and three assists was the second-most goal contributions of Serie A fullbacks, bettered only by Perisic, with the Italian continuing his attacking output this campaign having opened his league account already.
As mentioned, Spurs fans will have to wait a year to see Udogie in North London, but with Perisic and Sessegnon already competing for minutes, another full season of football to further his development makes sense.
Again, Udogie looks to be one of football’s hottest prospects, so securing him for £15 million plus add-ons could prove to be a bargain.
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
