Tottenham Hotspur summer transfer window primer
By Aaron Coe
Tottenham incoming transfer needs
Tottenham Hotspur is hopefully starting what Mauricio Pochettino once described as a painful rebuild. While we know moving some players out is a big part of the rebuild, more on that shortly, bringing in some fresh faces and new talent to replenish the ranks of the senior squad is just as important.
There will be ample time over the next three months to get into specific people but what is more important than the person right now is the positions that need to be filled with new incoming transfers. Here are the three biggest needs for Tottenham heading into the window.
Will Tottenham really replace Jan Vertonghen?
Tottenham struggled mightily at center back last season, particularly at the left-sided slot. There is not one naturally left-footed center back on the roster heading into the summer. Maybe Ben Davies could play there but the Spurs need to get younger and find their next Vertonghen.
Joe Rodon plays on the left some for the Wales national team but like the rest of the center backs for Tottenham, he too is right-footed. With the right experienced partner next to them any number of the backs currently on the roster could handle the right-hand side. One position that must be addressed is the left-sided center back.
Will Tottenham really replace Christian Eriksen?
It is not so much Eriksen that needs to be replaced, as Giovani Lo Celso was in theory that replacement. And while Gio can do some good things he is not the creative force that Eriksen was. Tottenham is desperately in need of real playmakers, which seems strange given the goals they scored.
Ultimately, this most recent Spurs team was like the worst of the Pochettino lot who could beat up on the weaker teams but struggled against better competition. Even against weaker teams this season, Spurs struggled to unlock them and find ways to score against a deep defense.
Eriksen used to be the player who drifted to different places in the final third and deliver the ball to the right person at the right time. Tottenham sorely misses that playmaking ability and needs to find someone with that kind of game this summer.
Who else will Tottenham need to replace?
After the clear need in the defense for a leader and on offense for a playmaker, where else emphasis is placed at Tottenham is likely to hinge on who gets sold.
The $100 million question of the summer is around Harry Kane and whether or not he will be sold. Obviously, if Kane is sold, Tottenham must finally invest in another striker. However, Kane may or may not go anywhere but we know some players will. Depending on who really does leave the club, whether Serge Aurier, Dele Alli, or Hugo Lloris the club will have to replace those players.
To date, Serge Aurier has had the most speculation about his departure making right back a real area of need. Frankly, even if Aurier stays Tottenham should probably address the position. Ultimately, who Tottenham can sell is likely to dictate where they go in the market outside those two big needs.