Addition by subtraction for Tottenham Hotspur in transfer window

By the numbers Tottenham Hotspur may appear to have gotten weaker in the transfer window, however, addition by subtraction says Spurs will be stronger. 

Tottenham was not a deep team before the transfer window, thus the idea that Spurs lost three more bodies than they gained makes it difficult to initially see the team being stronger. However, if we look beyond the sheer number of bodies, and at what the team was or was not getting from the players who are gone, then maybe the team is stronger with fewer players.

Contributions were limited from Spurs who left

If we look at the four main senior players who left, Bryan Gil, Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele, and Dele Alli, they played less than 1500 minutes combined in the league this season. As a point of reference, five others on the team have played more than all four combined.

Dele has the most minutes of any of the players who were sent out and was 13th on the team in total minutes, which started to decrease considerably under Antonio Conte.

From a production perspective, the quartet only contributed two goals – one apiece for Dele and Ndombele – and one assist, from Tanguy.

Tottenham looking for balance and depth

All three of Lo Celso, Ndombele, and Dele played the same position – attacking midfield – but not in a way that really fit Conte’s approach. The Italian clearly wants players who will put in a box-to-box shift and do the little things that keep teams moving. None of the three really play that way and thus did not fit Spurs plan.

Bringing in Rodrigo Bentancur brings more depth to the midfield, as the Uruguayan can play in any of the central positions in Conte’s approach, complementing Hojbjerg as readily as he would Winks or Skipp. Having a fourth player who can rotate around and play in a two-man or three-man midfield gives the team more options and balance.

Likewise, Dejan Kulusevski brings a bit more balance to the attacking line. Although he is left-footed Kulusevski traditionally lines up on the right-wing, a position Spurs needed help. Also capable of playing as a striker or through the middle behind Harry Kane, Kulusevski gives Conte more options, particularly against teams that park the bus.

It was not a flashy or splashy window but it should be one that ultimately is effective in the ongoing rebuild at N17, as Tottenham seek the top four.