Opinion: Three players Spurs must target in the summer transfer window

The current season for Tottenham Hotspur has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. The North London side have been consistently inconsistent in recent weeks, showing that improvement must be added to a struggling squad.

At the moment, there are very few players at Hotspur Way that are worthy of a nailed-on place at Spurs.

Hugo Lloris, Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min are the only world-class players in the current squad, while the likes of Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, Oliver Skipp and Dejan Kulusevski are all capable of performing consistently in the starting 11 alongside them.

However, this leaves us with plenty of space left in the squad for improvement. Therefore, I’ve found the three most important positions to improve and who they should be.

  • Right-wing-back – Tariq Lamptey

The Brighton and Hove Albion full-back has been superb for the Seagulls in recent years. At just 21 years old, the youngster has the potential to grow into one of the best wing-backs in the league.

This season, he has featured 21 times for Graham Potter’s side, achieving 2 assists in the process (Transfermarkt). Although this is not incredible, some other offensive stats do catch the eye. For example, he has averaged 0.9 key passes per game as well as 1.3 dribbles per game (Whoscored).

It is also worth mentioning that Lampety plays a little deeper in the Brighton system, and Potter’s side often struggled to turn chances into goals. So you would expect his numbers to improve dramatically at a bigger club, especially with Conte’s wing-back system.

However, the former Chelsea player will come with a hefty price tag if Spurs want to acquire his signature. Duncan Castles suggests it would take almost £50 million to lure him away from the South Coast (Metro).

  • Centre-back – Milan Skriniar

Having faced issues in defence for countless years, this summer is the perfect time for Tottenham Hotspur to upgrade their centre-backs. Milan Skriniar previously worked with Antonio Conte at Inter, so their relationship and success is already there for all to see.

At 27 years of age, the Slovakian would give Spurs experience in defence. Fans have complained that Spurs look to sign youngsters to develop rather than world-class talent. Therefore, Daniel Levy making this signing would be a clear statement of intent to the fans.

This season, he has featured 36 times for Inter Milan whilst being a key player in their attempt to defend the title (Transfermarkt). I believe he would take Spurs to the next level in their attempt to challenge for trophies.

  • Central midfield – James Ward-Prowse

In recent years, Spurs have struggled to find the perfect player in the middle of the park. However, I believe that James Ward-Prowse would fix these problems.

The 27-year-old has been a sensation in recent years, controlling big games and coming up with key goals and assists. This season alone, he has featured 32 times for the Saints, scoring 7 goals in the process (Transfermarkt).

It has been the Saints captain’s best season yet, proving a threat from multiple positions. But, one reason Spurs must acquire his signature is because of his free kicks.

The English midfielder has scored 12 free kicks in the Premier League, and is currently chasing David Beckham’s record of 18 (GiveMeSport).

As Spurs lack a true set-piece specialist, signing Ward-Prowse would give us a threat from new angles, compared to our typical style.

However, just like Lamptey, the midfielder would force a high price this summer, as he is Southampton’s captain and most important asset. I imagine it would take an impressive bid to make the owners even think about a sale.

Signing these three players would help Spurs take a step towards success. However, if Spurs want consistent success, then a clear plan must be in place for the summer.

Paratici, Conte and Levy must work together to source the very best players for the Italian’s system in order to make a push for the top four and a trophy next year.

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