Pochettino’s Summer plans

As the season draws to a close, Tottenham Hotspur look increasingly likely to finish in the top two in the Premier League, which would improve on their previous best placed finish of 3rd, which was set last season. Now as Mauricio Pochettino will be preparing his side for the final few games of the season, there is no doubt he will be planning ahead for the summer transfer window.

Unlike many previous transfer windows it is not glaringly obvious as to what position and what particular players Tottenham should recruit. Although there are a couple of positions that will need reinforcing in the coming months.

Firstly, attacking midfield/second striker, if Spurs are too keep hold of all of their prized assets, it’s a matter of filling in around the likes of Eriksen, Dele and Son. Many people around White Hart Lane expect Moussa Sissoko to depart after just one season, whilst players like Vincent Janssen, Georges- Kevin Nkoudou, Erik Lamela, Clinton N’Jie (currently on loan at Marseille) and Josh Onomah are placed in the uncertain ‘pile’ after a lack of form/fitness/game time during the 2016/2017 season. Looking forward, Spurs will inevitably promote at least one player from within the clubs youth set up, Marcus Edwards for example. This will most likely lead to only one or two signings in this area.

Wilfried Zaha looks next in line to be the pacey, direct ‘plan B’ that Pochettino has strived for in recent seasons with players like Njie and Nkoudou. The Crystal Palace attacker has had a good season at Selhurst park and would add Premier League experience and quality to the squad. In addition, Zaha could work as a second striker, a position Pochettino looks unlikely to focus on as Vincent Janssen looks keen to stay. Other options include, Ivan Perisic of Inter Milan, a more expensive option than Zaha, but a player with a great goals to game ratio who has performed at international level also. Elsewhere, Youri Tielemans is a young player with the world at his feet, under 20 years of age and playing great football for Belgian side RSC Anderlecht. The playmaker would be very well placed to work under the leadership of Pochettino and would certainly get more game time than at Manchester City, a rumour that has been doing the rounds recently.

Secondly, Mauricio Pochettino needs to look at central defense as it’s clear he and Kevin Wimmer are not onto a winner. The Austrian looks set to leave in search of first team football, which would leave Pochettino with a gap, which might yet again be filled with youth, but if this team is to challenge for trophies it needs a third, strong, centre back that can perform when required; whilst also helping with the progression of Cameron Carter Vickers. Alessio Romagnoli, a young centre back who plays for AC Milan might attract Pochettino, but it’s believed that the Argentine prefers looking for English/Premier League talent which might lead him to Michael Keane (Burnley) and Ben Gibson (Middlesborough) who are both potential options despite struggling with their respective Premier League teams.

To conclude, Tottenham Hotspur need to focus on keeping their current squad together whilst adding strength in depth to both central defense and attacking midfield, whilst keeping to the strict financial guidelines set by the board. It will be a challenge, but as many around N17 believe, if anyone can do it, Pochettino can.