What Will Tottenham Hotspur's Strongest Midfield Be in 2015/16 Season?

Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League campaign is about to get underway. 

A trip to Old Trafford will prove an immediate test to Mauricio Pochettino's team, and his midfield will come under especially close scrutiny. 

Manchester United have great strength in depth across the middle and, despite the loss of Angel Di Maria, have improved substantially over the summer. 

The transfer window has seen a reshaping of Spurs' options in the middle. 

Paulinho, Etienne Capoue, Benjamin Stambouli and Lewis Holtby have all been sold, but none were regular starters last season. 

Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb, Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela are all still at the club. 

As is Moussa Dembele, who is likely to start on the opening day against Manchester United.

These six formed the core of Spurs' midfield last season and will all remain important players in the coming campaign.  

Bentaleb is the key. 

The Algerian continues to develop, but is, even at 20 years old, Spurs' best midfielder. 

Having signed a five-year extension earlier in the summer, Bentaleb will form the base of Tottenham's midfield for years to come. 

Possessing great vision, rounded passing skills and a rugged streak, Bentaleb is the prototypical modern midfielder.

The question marks for Pochettino and Spurs this season hover over the players around Bentaleb. 

Mason broke into the first team last season because he complemented Bentaleb so well. 

Brave in possession, an intelligent runner and a capable defender, Mason remains the front-runner to play next to Bentaleb in Pochettino's preferred two-man central midfield. 

Spurs have not signed any midfielders so far this summer nor do they seem close to bringing any in. 

Instead, the return of players from loans will fill the void. 

One of those, Dele Alli, has emerged as Mason's biggest competitor. 

Alli is even younger than Bentaleb, just 19, and could be even more talented. 

His performances in pre-season and for MK Dons last season have been hugely impressive. 

He is unlikely to start against United, but it is entirely possible that he will be Spurs' starting central midfielder by Christmas. 

Pochettino has experimented with Eric Dier in midfield throughout the pre-season and also has Toby Alderweireld as a potential option. 

Both have some professional experience in midfield—Dier with Sporting and Alderweireld at Ajax and Southampton—but neither should be considered a strong option. 

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If Spurs are planning a rearguard action against United, a tactic Pochettino effectively employed against Arsenal at the Emirates last season, Dier or Alderweireld could be useful, but neither should be relied upon regularly. 

Ahead of his double-pivot, Pochettino prefers to deploy a three-man attacking-midfield line.

Chadli and Lamela were preferred options last season, but both had significant drawbacks.

Chadli was a regular and dependable goalscorer but was lazy in defence and often left his full-back double-teamed.  

Lamela was a more determined defender but struggled to leave his mark on enough games. 

Christian Eriksen was Spurs' best player for long stretches of last season. He took control of games and wrenched unlikely victories. Fatigue took a toll on him, and he struggled late in the season, but there can be no question of his importance to the side.

Eriksen is assured of a place in that line, but the other two places are there to be won. 

Alex Pritchard, returning from a brilliant loan spell last season with Brentford, will push the incumbent wide midfielders and could displace either if he can prove himself in the top flight. 

He is likely to get his first chances in the Europa League and League Cup, but his unique combination of mesmeric dribbling and goal threat could see him outgrow those lesser competitions, as Harry Kane did last season. 

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Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend could also both play a role, but neither has played in pre-season, and Pochettino has admitted that Lennon is no longer in his plans. 

Tottenham enter the new season with an established midfield and a number of youngsters keeping that core on their toes. 

Tom Carroll, Harry Winks and Josh Onomah all showed impressive form against AC Milan, and none would look out of place on Spurs' bench. 

Bentaleb and Eriksen are budding superstars. Spurs will base their team around that duo, and Pochettino will open competition for the other places. 

As Mason proved last season, there are no barriers to Spurs' first team. If Winks, Alli or another untried youngster shows themselves to be good enough, they will be in the team.