Tottenham still need to sign striker, center-back in transfer window
Tottenham still need to sign a striker and center-back.
The transfer window shuts in less than two weeks, and Tottenham Hotspur still need to make a couple of signings.
It’s been a strong window for Spurs so far, starting with the signings of midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, right-back Matt Doherty, and goalkeeper Joe Hart. They’ve since made the blockbuster signings of Gareth Bale and left-back Sergio Reguilon, Bale’s teammate at Real Madrid.
These are great moves that have helped Tottenham strengthen in areas of need. However, in the opening few games of the season, it was evident work still needs to be done. Two positions come to mind immediately.
One of them is striker. Tottenham have one of the best front-threes in the world with the addition of Bale, who links up with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. We saw on Sunday how dominant the Kane-Son partnership can be with Kane setting up all four of Son’s goals. Now add in a superstar talent like Bale, and Spurs’ attack could be impossible to stop.
Especially when you factor in Tottenham’s other attacking options like Lucas Moura, Dele Alli (if he stays at the club this summer), Steven Bergwijn, and Erik Lamela.
That said, Kane is the only true striker in that mix. Spurs have some great attacking options, but only one striker to play up front and make the most of the opportunities coming his way. Sure, Son and Moura have played as the lone striker in the past, but there’s a reason it’s not their main position. They can both do it, but it’s not their natural role in the team.
Before the window shuts, Tottenham need to find a striker who can play when Kane needs a rest. Whether that’s in cup games, occasionally in the Premier League, or just as a substitute, Tottenham can’t expect Kane to line up in every game of the season.
There are even bigger problems at the other end of the pitch. Spurs have done well to address both full-back positions in this window, but there’s a real issue at center-back.
It doesn’t matter which combination of Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, or Toby Alderweireld is out there, the result is usually the same.
We saw a perfect example of this in Sunday’s win at Southampton. On the opening goal of the game, former Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker-Peters fired a long ball downfield, which split the centre-back pairing of Dier and Sanchez, with Danny Ings firing home with an impressive finish. It was awful play from Spurs’ center-backs and all too easy for Saints.
It hasn’t been much better when Alderweireld is out there, either.
Ideally, Tottenham will bring in two center-backs before the transfer window shuts. That might be unrealistic, but they need to bring in at least one new player at the back.
If Spurs can fix some of the concerns at center-back and striker before October 5, this could go down as one of their greatest ever transfer windows. But the work isn’t done yet.