Opinion: What I want to see from Tottenham before the transfer window closes

It’s been an interesting summer so far for Tottenham, when Fabio Paratici was appointed it was due to be a busy summer ahead.

With plenty of deadwood needing shifting and much-needed improvements required, it’s felt a touch underwhelming so far. Romero, Gollini, Gil and Sarr have all been brought in, however, Gil and Sarr are ones for the future and Gollini is an understudy to the evergreen Hugo Lloris. Tottenham need players now; one new starter so far isn’t enough.

Here is what I’d like to see before the deadline closes on Tuesday.

Deadwood

There seems to be a never-ending list of players Tottenham should be looking to move on, with Lamela, Alderweireld, Hart, Rose, Sissoko, Foyth and Gazzaniga all being moved on so far this summer. Whilst you can make a case for each of those names listed needing to be moved on, there are still some obvious names in my opinion that should already be on that list with those mentioned.

Players like Serge Aurier are still on the books, someone who Tottenham seemingly cannot sell. Harry Winks and Cameron Carter-Vickers are not up to the level required to play for Spurs, and I think one of Davinson Sanchez or Eric Dier should also be on their way out.

There’s still time, but a much-promised summer to refresh our scarily stale squad appears to be moving at a snail’s pace rather than the speed required. It’s no secret Tottenham need to sell to buy, so leaving it so late to move on so many players is only going to hinder us as we go into the final few days of the window.

Players in

The weakest part of our starting XI for me is still the defence, Cristian Romero is a fantastic signing, but he cannot revolutionise the defence on his own. Admittedly I wasn’t expecting Tanganga’s breathtaking start to the season, but I still believe we need to sign a right-back.

If Nuno is to persist with this lopsided full-back tactical approach with the right-back sitting while Reguilon flies forward, I’d like to see us try again for Takehiro Tomiyasu of Bologna, a right-back capable of playing centre-half too seems to be exactly the type of player to fit Nuno’s system and improve upon what we have. Rumours appear to be suggesting Spurs might be back in for Tomiyasu (Express), but time will tell.

Another centre-half I don’t think is out of the question either, with Dier and Sanchez both liable to make errors and Joe Rodon seemingly struggling to get fit, someone to compliment and partner Romero could be a good move.

It seems Nuno is set on a midfield 3, with a 6 and two 8’s (a defensive midfielder and two centre-midfielders), so far it has been Oliver Skipp deeper with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Dele in front of them. Whilst all three have been solid in the first two Premier League games, Dele especially looks like a player rejuvenated. I think there is a lack of balance within that three. A distinct lack of creativity, someone who is going to pick up the ball and play a long forward ball, a player that progresses us up the pitch.

The Wolves game seemed to make that especially clear, Tottenham we lucky to come away with all three points atMolineux. Whether Nuno sees Giovani Lo Celso as that player once fully fit remains to be seen, but an upgrade in creativity I’d like to see is ever linked Houssem Aouar of Lyon, recently linked AGAIN with another move to north London (Sky Sports.com) Aouar offers something different and could be the key to unlocking teams that play a low-block and give us more control against a team like Wolves.

The news that Kane is staying for at least this summer is, of course, excellent news for Spurs. However, there is still a lack of out and out strikers in Tottenham’s ranks. Dane Scarlett featured throughout pre-season but is still very young and extremely unproven at senior level.

A striker to come in would not only offer more depth to the squad but offer Nuno some flexibility when it comes to the system available. Of course, all remains to be seen in the next few days, but another season of relying on Son up-top if Kane picks up an injury doesn’t sit right with me.

What I’m expecting

It could just be the Tottenham fan in me, but I’m expecting to be disappointed and a little underwhelmed come deadline day. I think there will be some moved on and maybe one or two brought in, but ultimately, I don’t think it’ll be enough to take us to a required level to break into the top four.

Of course, football is full of surprises and stranger things have happened, fingers are crossed we are all sat come Wednesday morning looking at some much needed first-team improvements and a squad that gives Nuno the best chance to compete for a return to the Champions League.

Related Topics