Tottenham: Reviewing transfer window so far, and what’s next?

Tottenham Hotspur are not done with their business in the window but have completed some deals on all fronts. So how have Spurs done so far?

While the transfer window is not nearly complete, Tottenham Hotspur have made a couple signings, sold a couple players and sent some players out on loan.

So how are Spurs doing thus far in the window and what is left for the team to secure the needed resources for Jose Mourinho and company to compete on all fronts?

Tottenham transfers in

Thus far, Tottenham Hotspur have two confirmed senior team signings in the transfer window.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg joined on a permanent transfer from Southampton, for a fee reportedly about $18.26 million or 15.30 million euros. Some four years later that is only $3 million US more than Spurs paid for Victor Wanyama and is less than $1 million more than was paid for Giovanni Lo Celso’s loan fee ($17.60 million), I would say it was some good business. Note Lo Celso was officially purchased in January, so he is not included here, but you can find more on GLC here.

More important than the shrewd bargain struct by Daniel Levy is the void in the Tottenham Hotspur squad that Hojbjerg fills as true defensive midfielder. Since Mousa Dembele left and Victor Wanyama could not stay healthy, Spurs have had to make do with various other attacking and outside midfielders playing in mostly a double pivot defense formation.

With the Danish international now sitting in front of the back line, whoever is partnered in the center of the park will have more freedom to roam, particularly into attack. Further, playing a double pivot at the base of the midfield will no longer be a requirement, rather a tactical decision.

Beside Hojbjerg, Spurs have added Joe Hart to serve as one of the back-up keepers. This should help if cover is required this season as it was last season. Additionally, Hart should be able to push Paulo Gazzaniga for the second spot in the squad, making for a healthier position overall. If you do not like the Hart signing because of his performance the last two years, there are more reasons to like it.

First, as a player counting toward the homegrown total – which Michel Vorm did not – it opens a space for an additional foreign player, both in European competition and domestically. Second, Hart is a proven winner and has the trophy cabinet to prove it.

That experience and voice can only help in the clubhouse. Finally, third and maybe most important, having three senior team keepers forces the team hopefully loan out Alfie Whiteman for some much needed first-team experience at hopefully the Championship level. For more on Joe Hart’s signing, check here for an article from my colleague Freddie Boston.