Less than four weeks remain until the draw for the 2025-26 Champions League is announced at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on August 28. Despite Daniel Levy's penchant for last-minute deals, there are several reasons to believe the Tottenham chairman will be busy in the transfer window long before Spurs find out who they will face in the Champions League league phase.
Mitigating another injury crisis should be at the top of Levy's to-do list. The addition of João Palhinha helps solidify the central midfield, but manager Thomas Frank still needs a reliable attacking threat in the middle of the pitch, given James Maddison's injury history and Dejan Kulusevski's long road to recovery from patella surgery. Spurs were already thin at fullback before Destiny Udogie "felt something in the warmup" against Luton Town and did not make the trip to Asia. Dominic Solanke tweaked his ankle in preseason for a second year in a row, and there is no evidence to suggest Richarlison will stay fit for more than half the season.
Health concerns aside, UEFA's "locally-trained player" rules leave Frank with no conceivable way to register a full 25-man squad for the Champions League. While Spurs have more than enough "association-trained players," only Brandon Austin can be registered among the four spots reserved for "club-trained players." They simply don't have the luxury of signing new players without first releasing others. Logic would suggest that Daniel Levy and Johan Lange will focus on outgoings while prioritizing versatile signings to ensure Frank has depth at all positions.
The only position where Spurs have no apparent need is goalkeeper, with Guglielmo Vicario, Antonín Kinský, and Brandon Austin all expected to be registered for the Champions League squad.
Levy may, however, look to add another central defender. Ben Davies is Spurs' only dedicated left-sided center-back other than Micky van de Ven, but it's not a foregone conclusion the Welshman will be at the club when the season begins. There are also concerns Radu Drăgușin will not have recovered from ACL surgery until the Champions League knockout phase.
Likewise, Spurs' situation at fullback is worryingly precarious. If Destiny Udogie's injury is serious, Djed Spence will be expected to play left-back in three competitions. Frank could deputize Archie Gray, but he would be ruthlessly targeted as Spurs' weak link by Champions League managers. The smart money would be on Tottenham signing a left-sided defensive player who can also play centrally.
With the addition of João Palhinha, Frank has no shortage of midfielders to choose from. Even if Yves Bissouma departs the club this summer, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, and Lucas Bergvall can all play in the double pivot. However, the failed pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White raises questions about whether Frank feels he needs a more dynamic option than James Maddison, particularly if he intends to play Mohammed Kudus on the right wing.
Despite signing Mathys Tel to a permanent deal, Son Heung-min's tearful departure from the club leaves Frank to choose between two young, inexperienced left wingers and either Brennan Johnson or Mohammed Kudus on the right. In an ideal world, Spurs would add a versatile forward who could play across the front line and fill in for strikers Dominic Solanke or Richarlison, should the Brazilian stay for another season.
Despite the talent Frank has at his disposal, Spurs' current 22-man squad is nowhere near deep enough to compete in the Champions League. To upgrade the current roster, Tottenham need to move a few players on and add a versatile left-sided defender and a multifaceted attacking player.
Current Squad Breakdown
Goalkeepers (3): Guglielmo Vicario, Antonín Kinský, Brandon Austin (CT)
Central Defenders (4): Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies (AT)
Fullbacks (4): Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Djed Spence (AT), Archie Gray (AT)
Midfielders (5): João Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison (AT)
Wingers (4): Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson (AT)
Strikers (2): Dominic Solanke (AT), Richarlison
Non-Registered: Radu Drăgușin (injured), Dejan Kulusevski (injured), Yves Bissouma, Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil
CT = Club Trained, AT = Association Trained