Tottenham Hotspur, assuming they are able to add Morgan Gibbs-White to Mohammed Kudus, should have their attacking options mostly settled heading into the first season of Thomas Frank's new sporting project in North London - a continuation from what Ange Postecoglou built, which included a Europa League title triumph.
However, Tottenham are at risk of continuing to struggle in the Premier League while getting knocked down in a huge step up in competition quality in the Champions League, simply because they don't have the right infrastructure in the middle of the park.
Postecoglou's brazen tactics didn't necessarily help, but no matter who would have coached Tottenham, it's unlikely the midfield would have been any less overmatched without real screening and controlling quality.
Frank and Tottenham have been targeting Crystal Palace defensive midfielder Adam Wharton as their dream get at the No. 6 position this summer, but there's an acknowledgment that Wharton will be very difficult to sign due to his value to Palace, the scarcity of his position, his youth and quality, and the simple fact that Palace always drive a hard bargain for their players (look no further than other Tottenham targets like Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze).
Not interested in either Tottenham or Liverpool
Now, according to a report from respected journalist Alan Nixon for The Sun, Wharton may be impossible to get entirely, regardless of the rumored transfer fee. That's because, per Nixon, Wharton is not interested in leaving Crystal Palace at all this summer transfer window despite flattering interest from Tottenham Hotspur and defending Premier League champions Liverpool.
Still just 21 years old despite already establishing himself as one of the elite holding midfielders in the English Premiership, Wharton has three years left on his contract. Not only does he have time to wait for his big move, but Palace also have plenty of time themselves before they are remotely under any pressure to sell the England international.
With Wharton almost certainly off the table this summer, Tottenham will have to wade through a difficult market for legitimate, star-level No. 6 options, and, if anything, the list of possible transfer targets is only dwindling for Spurs. Underrated options who could be worth Tottenham's time like Richard Rios and Anton Stach are already either officially gone or close to being officially off the table.
Currently, Tottenham are trying to shop Yves Bissouma, too, leaving Rodrigo Bentancur as the only established holding midfielder in the first team.