Scouting Europe's Relegated Teams for Tottenham Transfer Targets

Tottenham's season has dropped off dramatically since its post-January high. 

They beat Arsenal and Chelsea within a month, either side of reaching their first cup final in seven seasons, leaving them poised for a historic campaign. Unfortunately for them, it all fell away. 

Defeats in the Premier League, League Cup Final and Europa League demonstrated a lack of squad depth and overall quality that must be addressed in the coming transfer window. 

Spurs lack the financial clout to match the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid and must instead search for bargains. 

Relegated clubs can be a reliable source of cheap players. 

Loic Remy, signed by Newcastle from relegated QPR last season, scored the goals to keep the then-Alan Pardew-coached Toon in the top flight. 

Marco Verratti moved from relegated Pescara to PSG in 2012 and has gone on to star as the Parisiens rack up the domestic titles. 

Roberto Martinez's Wigan side dropped down to the Championship in 2013 but several of their players remained in the top flight, moving to Everton along with their former manager. 

Bargains can be had and there is excellent potential among some of Europe's already relegated sides. 

In England, only QPR are officially down. Their leading goalscorer, Charlie Austin, is an obvious transfer for many of the teams they will leave behind. His 17 league goals prove his quality and he would make an excellent understudy or potential partner for Harry Kane. 

Leroy Fer, the multi-faceted Dutch midfielder, is another potential signing for Spurs. He is an athletic, aggressive and skilful player that does not look out of place in a Premier League midfield. Four league goals in a desperately poor side is not a bad return for an £8 million player but Spurs would not want to spend much more than that.

Burnley are virtual certainties to be relegated next and their side contains some potentially excellent players. Kieran Trippier is a very solid English right-back who could provide competition for Kyle Walker. Danny Ings' qualities are well known and he too would be a solid addition. 

Parma and Cesena have both been relegated to next season's Serie B.

Ishak Belfodil, international teammate of Nabil Bentaleb, has reportedly already been made a free agent by Parma. Much-hyped as a youngster, Belfodil is still only 23 and undoubtedly talented. Many clubs are watching him but he seems a worthwhile gamble. 

French forward Gregoire Defrel is being watched by Fiorentina as well as several Premier League sides. A mazy dribbler and reliable scorer, Defrel could help Spurs' problems in wide areas. 

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Spain's only relegated side so far is Cordoba. They are a side lacking many household names though the likes of Nabil Ghilas and Manchester City prodigy Bruno Zuculini are there on loan. 

Their goalkeeper, Juan Carlos, has been one of the few bright lights this season and he could prove to a solid back-up if Hugo Lloris does move on. 

At this stage, there are only a handful of clubs that have been relegated and those clubs that survive a little longer will, by definition, have yet more talent. If the relegations of clubs like Newcastle, Stuttgart and Atalanta are confirmed, there will only be more quality available. 

Spurs cannot solve all their problems by raiding the fodder of Europe's various leagues but they can drag the quality of their squad up a few levels with some sensible movements. 

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

The pending transfer window seems poised to be a hugely influential one in the history of Tottenham. 

If the club can help to realise Mauricio Pochettino's vision by signing the players that he requires, they could realistically make the leap from sixth to fourth in just a short period. 

A single transfer window could be all that Spurs need to grow into contenders. For now they are well short, lacking quality in every area but, despite their obvious shortcomings, they have a squad of great potential. 

Players like Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Nabil Bentaleb are good enough to contend for a place in any squad. That Spurs have them all bodes exceptionally well for the future under Pochettino. 

The squad needs reinforcing and money must be spent but relegated clubs can be a rich seam to be mined and help provide a shortcut to progress.