Premiere League: Tottenham Hotspur and Next Season

Spurs are arguably the most media-friendly club in the Premier League. The amount of written space dedicated to Spurs would probably fill the Amazon rainforest three times over.  However, as with the amount of rhetoric verbal diarrhoea that emanates, more pressing issues begin to emerge and perhaps the most critical is the future of a certain Dimitar Berbatov.

Berbatov, has become what Cristiano Ronaldo is to Manchester United, undisposable and as with the Portugese Wizard potential suitors are not hard to find. Initial interest has been expressed and most notably from Italy, with the Azzuri hot on the heels of the in-form striker. Berbatov has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, only 2 less than last season’s tally and is looking more than likely to exceed that record, with his top tally coming from his Bayer Levukusen days of 26 in the 2004-2005 season. His European record is second to none scoring at least a goal every other match and there is no wonder the likes of Barcelona have expressed initial interest in the so-called ‘lazy striker’.

Berbatov’s future at White Hart Lane has become a story of distraction, with Emil Dantchev (Berbatov’s Agent), doing no more than adding fuel to the fire, suggesting Berbatov would consider an offer from the Azzuri. Manchester United have always been rumoured to be hot on the heels of the new Bulgarian Player of the Year.

However Ramos has spoken positively of Tottenham’s chances of keeping the Bulgarian International.

“We want him to keep on playing for Tottenham,’ he told Sky Sports News “...he deserves it (the interest) because he is a great footballer.”

Pre-summer transfer speculation began in earnest yesterday following Ramos admission that Ronaldinho ‘would fit in every respect’ into the Tottenham line-up. Third choice striker Darren Bent’s future has also been called into question with Sunderland rumoured to be heading the list of potential suitors for the former England International.

 Another subject of speculation is Aaron Lennon, also a former England International, who has found himself fourth choice England right winger, behind Bentley, Beckham and Wright-Phillips.  Lennon’s rise to fame has faltered since his inaugural World Cup in Germany where his pace and trickery were admired by critics and writers alike.

However, in the mould of Paul Robinson, cracks have started to appear in his game most notably the quality of his final ball and players in this day and age are judged on the end product and Lennon seems to lack this in abundance. Following Ramos admission that every player is fighting for their place in the squad next year, Lennon could find that his time is coming to a close at the Lane with Man City’s Sven Goran Erikkson keen to give the England winger a new lease of life at the City of Manchester stadium.

Most recently the Joe Lewis story broke, suggesting his stake in Bearings Bank has cost the Bahamas-based billionaire over 500 million pounds, however ENIC, the brain-child of Daniel Levy and the majority shareholder in Tottenham, operates independently of Lewis and Spurs will not be affected by Lewis’ discrepancy and Spurs will continue to function as a profit-making entity.

Following a respectable Carling Cup run which culminated in Spurs winning their first trophy since 1999 Spurs have faltered in the league and with only a handful of games to go it appears Spurs have nothing left to play for. However the former Uruguayan International and now Spurs assistant Manager Gus Poyet has been positive about the style of Football Spurs will play in their final few games of the season.

“I don’t think we are in a position where we need to be holding out for a result like a 0-0 or something like that,” Poyet told tottenhamhotspur.com “...it worked against Portsmouth... we risked it.”

Following two fifth place finishes, Spurs are languishing at Fifth in the table and looked poised to have their lowest league finish following ENIC’s takeover of Tottenham Hotspur. With a League run-in coinciding with a relegation race, which has been commented as the closest in the Premier League’s history, it seems that Spurs are yet to have their last say in the make-up of the Premier League next season.