Tottenham can do most of their summer business for free this January
Tottenham’s squad is too small. The standard of competition that is expected from Spurs following the last few years’ success is higher now and to sustain it they need a larger pool of talent.
The good news is that Tottenham, if they’re smart, can improve their squad and do it for free and if they want to force it they can do cut-price moves in January. The places that Tottenham are weakest are left-back and defensive midfield. The team has good players in these positions that’s not to say that they don’t. But often the difference between a good club and a great club is how the team is able to cope with injuries.
More than the left-back issue worries me the midfield one does. Christian Eriksen is one of the best players in Europe. Not just the Premier League but Europe. For instance and I stand by this belief wholeheartedly he is every single bit the player that Kevin De Bruyne is he just simply doesn’t get the attention because the Tottenham media machine is nothing like that of Manchester City.
In central midfield to partner Eriksen Tottenham have seemingly three of the same player all of whom are equally limited. Victor Wanyama, Moussa Dembele (who is likely leaving anyway) and Moussa Sissoko are all strong midfield destroyers who can’t move the ball as well as would be preferable. Eric Dier has begun to worry in that he’s beginning to fall short of the early “Next Michael Carrick” levels that we expected of him. But that’s not a worry yet.
In the midfield then Tottenham need a strong third player to aid Dier in the defensive midfield but who can also add more to the team going forward. Tottenham have too much attacking ability to not maximize it. If Tottenham aren’t attacking then they’re not fulfilling their potential and too often the ball is muddled about in midfield.
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The solution to this should be Adrien Rabiot of Paris Saint-Germain. He’s in a foreign league so Tottenham can make him a pre-contract offer in January. He’s a phenomenal passer who covers a lot of distance and is also willing to get stuck in. He would lift some of the creative weight off Eriksen and make it easier for the midfielder to create for the talented attack going forward.
Of course, Rabiot would need a large contract but to placate Levy I would highlight that there’s a massive savings to be made in not paying a transfer fee. That then would free up more money for the contract.
If not possible then Max Meyer of Schalke should be the second option and then finally Emre Can should be the third option and fulfills many of the same issues as Rabiot but is older. That said his experience could be very useful.
At left back Jordan Lukaku the brother of Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku is on an expiring contract at Lazio. He has been one of the most consistent left-backs in Italy for years and also possesses the physicality of his brother. While that seems to be an issue for the striker at times it has been nothing but a benefit for the defensive-minded younger sibling. Simone Inzaghi is one of the best young managers in world football and his trust in the young Belgian left-back is something that should not be underrated.
His also being in a foreign league means Tottenham could sign him on a pre-contract and that would be free for them as well.
If Tottenham sign any of the midfielders suggested and then Lukaku as well it would be as good as having fone 65-80 million pounds worth of business for free. No one says that Tottenham needs to spend money. Levy at times even appears allergic to the notion. But standing still while his opponents improve for another year in a row would be a fireable offense particularly when the options are as good as they are now.