Champions League: Top 10 Moves Tottenham Must Make to Compete

Exceeding all expectations, the Tottenham Hotspurs have qualified for the Champions League for the season 2010-11. After a sensational season wherein the club very often faced stiff competition from rival clubs like Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Liverpool for the coveted top-four finish, the Lilywhites have deservedly finished fourth.

In the process of finishing fourth, though, the Spurs had also overcome late challenges from Chelsea and Arsenal, who are considered the only elite London outfits in European club football. This late run of successive victories coupled with a fairly consistent performance last season has finally signalled the rise of Tottenham as the latest super-power in the Premier league.
However, qualifying for the Champions League is one, thing and consistently proving one's mettle at that level is another.

It is not unknown to anyone that the Champions League brings out the best from Europe's elite competitions; therefore, to compete against such high quality teams, a very strong team is a must.

The Spurs have a very good tactician in Harry Rednapp and along with it the prospect of playing the Champions League this season should make Tottenham an attractive proposition for many world-class players to White Hart Lane.

Here is a list of the top 10 moves that the Spurs can resort to in order to get competitive on an all-European stage and make major in-roads therein. It doesn't only entail major buys—it also includes players that the club needs to sell.

Moreover, the list is a little exhaustive, and after such an amazing season, any major overhaul of the club isn't expected; however, most of these moves are possible.

Sell Giovani Dos Santos

Tottenham are apparently happy to consider partying ways with this Mexican International. Frankly, with the more physical demands of the Premier League, such a move could be mutually beneficial for both Dos Santos and Tottenham.

If Tottenham really consider selling Giovani , the time could not be better.

After an impressive outing in the World Cup for the national side, Dos Santos has had rave reviews from a host of football pundits across the globe and has also attracted attention from some major clubs in italy.

Tottenham could easily let Dos Santos go now in exchange for some good cash, which could be of some major help to them in building their team for the Champions League.

Sell Robbie Keane and David Bentley

If last season was a clear indication of who are the real surplus material for the Lilywhites, the two players who form the major deadwood for the club are Robbie Keane and David Bentley.

Whilst both of them also had their share of outbursts and problems with Harry Redknapp, the indications that they are no longer needed by the club were evident in the way the Spurs managed the second half of the season without them playing any major part.

Keane was too keen to join Celtic, having limited opportunities at Tottenham, whilst Bentley's season was also far from impressive on the whole.

Selling these two players who are want-ways won't affect the club in any major way, and would only aid it in forming a better team with better state of available finance.

Swap Jermaine Jenas for Ashley Young

Ashley Young has been a very good premier league player for most of his time at Villa Park. With Aston Villa boss O'Niell eyeing Jermanine Jenas this summer as per some reports, a move for Ashley should be considered by Harry Redknapp.

Of course, Ashley Young would be valued highly by the Villans—any deal involving cash plus Jermaine Jenas could prove enticing for Aston Villa. Needless to say, the deal would certainly need to be carried out with a lot of wit, however the ability of Harry Redknapp to do so and the prospect of playing in the Champions League could prove lucrative for Ashley Young.

Although the prospect of losing Milner could make such a deal even tougher to go through, David Bentley could also be made a part of the deal if Villa are ready to part with some cash. Thus, the deal would be mutually beneficial as Villa would have both Jenas and Bentley to strengthen their team whilst the Spurs would have some amount of Cash, and more importantly, Ashley Young.

The strength that Young lends down the right flank could give the spurs some major uplift in that section.

Sign the promising defender , Simon Kjaer

Simon Kjaer has been linked with a move to the Premier League for quite some time now.

Latest reports suggest that Palermo are in a mood to accept the Spurs' bid to let go of Kjaer. Tottenham clearly should benefit from such a move, as the lad has been very promising and could be a very effective partner to Corluka in the heart of defence. Moreover, Totteham have had their list of injury worries at the back, which has been quite a setback for them, With Kjaer in the set-up however things could only improve for them.

Sign Michael Carrick, One of Harry's favorites

Every Manager has some favorites. Harry Redknapp is no exception. The Tottenham boss has emphasized many a time in various reports that he would like to have Carrick back at White Hart Lane.

It is true though, that Carrick has established himself as a United player after moving on. He has proven time and again to be an above average holding mid-fielder. With Champions League a priority now for the Spurs, the calming influence of Carrick, a person who has already been there and done that, would be re-assuring to say the least.

Go for the Desert Fox, Raiis M' Bolhi

Tottenham have had a few problems with goalkeeping, and Cudicini’s injury last season didn’t help the cause.

Early rule out of Cudicini meant that Gomes had to play for the Spurs throughout the season without any injuries, which is not always a guarantee in football.

This season, the Spurs have some extra strain imposed upon them because they also have the Champions League to deal with. If the Spurs do really progress beyond the group stages, it would be comforting for the White Hart Lane outfit to know they have a solid back up in the Algerian keeper M’Bolhi to play for them in case of any similar problem .

An absolute must: Sign Joe Cole

This player has been the subject of speculation for quite sometime now, and among all managers in the Premier League, none have made their keenness to get the player known to the extent of Harry Redknapp.

This extremely skillful mid-fielder is arguably the best free agent in English football this Summer and has a host of teams lining up to get him.

There is a big stumbling block for Tottenham relating to the wages of the player, which is the same problem that made them pull out of the race to sign Van Nistelrooy in the January window.

Harry Redknapp still remains confident though, as Joe Cole wants to stay in London, and the perseverance of Redknapp may ultimately make Cole settle to White Hart lane for a lesser wage than what he now demands. The attraction of Champions League may also be a factor that makes the move a reality.

Joe Cole is considered a solid player in the central mid-field, and his attacking approach to the game may be a major boost to Tottenham’s chances should they be able to successfully get him.

Bring in The German Maestro, Bastian Schweinsteiger

Just like former German great Jurgen Klinsmann, who played for the Spurs, the Lilywhites would certainly need at least one world-class buy to compete for the Champions League.

Going by his current form, Schweinsteiger could very well be that type of a figure for the Spurs.The 25-year-old lad is tall and strong and easily an asset for any team he plays for. Although, with the race for his signing predicted to heat up, Tottenham may have to fight off some bitter rivals to earn his signature, and even then, he may not be a cheap buy.

However, the attractive Premier League should still stand a reasonable chance if they really intend to get the services of this German and Bayern Munich star.

Signing Edin Cavani, the Palermo star

Rumors are rife that the Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is already extremely keen to get this Uruguyan as a part of a double-raid on Serie A side Palermo.

Edin Cavani has pretty much been a mainstay for the Serie A side, who made a good run in the race for the top four in Italy.

With such a pedigree, Cavani could very well take on the role of a key striker alongside Jermain Defoe at White Hart Lane. The additional attractions of playing in the Champions League could further fuel the switch for Cavani to the London outfit.

Swap of Summer : Jan Klaas- Huntelaar for Roman Pavlyuchenko

Although the Russian striker hit prime form towards the end of the season for the Spurs, it is still thought that Roman Pavlyuchenko is not exactly a wanted man at White Hart Lane.

After a sequence of rumours which had Tottenham offering the Russian as a bait to capture other lucrative players, it wouldn’t surprise anybody if eventually a deal like that really went through.

Preferably, Tottenham would like to get another striker if they consider giving away Pavlyuchenko, and long-term target Huntelaar could well be considered the ideal choice. With his constant tryst with injuries in England, the deal may well benefit Pavlyuchenko also.

Andrei Shevchenko, whose style of play is very similar to Roman’s, may also suit Huntelaar’s present employer, AC Milan, who could very well consider the player as a suitable option.