Tottenham: Why Spurs' Offseason Spells Disaster for Next Season

The summer transfer window is a double-edged sword if there ever was one.

For some clubs in England's Premier League, it means replenishment and restoration. Squads are recycled, with older, ineffective players put out to pasture and younger, more hopeful prospects plugged into their place.

But the other side of the coin is depletion and devolution. For some rosters to improve, others must get worse and that means some clubs lose more talent than they gain.

Unfortunately for Tottenham, it looks as though their mighty Spurs, the same Spurs that were challenging Manchester City for the title last spring, have flipped the coin and come up wanting.

Last season's offseason brought hope to White Hart Lane and hope, it seems, has not sprung eternal, opting rather for merely 12 months of bloom. This summer's harvest is yielding little crop, hinting at a season that will be as bitter as the winter rain.

What specifically about this offseason spells disaster for next season? Join me and find out.

Bale Might Go to Barca

Gareth Bale isn't just Tottenham's favorite player—he's their best player.

The Sun has reported that Spurs have offered the Welsh winger a new contract in the ballpark of £70,000 per week, but will it be enough to keep the homegrown talent at White Hart Lane?

My gut says no, and even if Tottenham shells out that much cash to keep Bale, they'll certainly lose...

Modric to Real Madrid

It seems that the best-case scenario for Spurs is to keep only one of their departing midfielders, and if there's one who will stay it'll certainly be Bale.

I think Tottenham will lose both of their gifted targets, but Modric leaving seems almost an foregone conclusion.

According to The Guardian, the Croatian standout "will tell managerless Spurs...he wants to quit the club."

Preliminary reports say that Real Madrid are currently winning the race for the playmaker, offering to pay Tottenham £30 million in transfer fees.

Vertonghen Deal (Still) on Hold

It's been over a month since the rumors started of Ajax wonderboy, Jan Vertonghen, was coming to Tottenham and his contract talks are still on hold.

According to ESPN, "Spurs have been working on a deal for some time and expected the transfer to go through earlier this month," but there's nitpicking about the details of who gets how much of the transfer fee.

The much-needed centre-back could be in north London getting used to new surroundings and settling into a new home, but trivial squabbling is delaying the Belgian's arrival to the Premier League.

Every day that goes by that a deal doesn't get finalized is a day less that Vertonghen has to mold himself to new tactics and teammates.

No New Keepers on the Horizon

Brad Friedel had a season any 'keeper in the world would be proud of.

His 14 clean sheets were just three shy of the coveted Golden Glove and his 1.08 goals against average was bested by just four other 'keepers (all four of which, coincidentally, faced less shots on goal than Friedel).

But the simple fact remains that the Ohio native will be 42 years old at the start of next season and his knees probably only have one more English winter in them. Tottenham desperately needs a goalkeeper for the future and if this offseason has been spent trying to find him, I've certainly not heard about it.

Heurelho Gomes is most certainly not the answer and Carlo Cudicini's best days are behind him.

Friedel won't falter in the first half of next season, but as Tottenham attempts to wrap up a Champions League, the then-42-year-old's body just won't be able to take it.

At this point next season, entrance into the Europa League will look like a gift rather than a punishment.

...and Who Will Manage It All?

Player news aside, the news coming out Tottenham at Spurs' attempts at finding a manager to replace Harry Redknapp are, well, embarrassing.

According to The Guardian, Andre Villas-Boas seemed to be the front-runner. But because of Daniel Levy's insistence at interviewing many more candidates than they probably should, they've turned the former Chelsea manager from expectation to frustration.

Other potential candidates include Laurent Blanc, Roberto Martinez and David Moyes. But why hold "lengthy discussions" with a manager like Villas-Boas and then court others? Leave the high-profile, newsworthy managers for later in the game so as to avoid the kind of drama Tottenham finds themselves in now.