A Fantasy XI of Players Linked with Tottenham in the Past 12 Months
How will Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino improve a squad that challenged for the Premier League title? How will he improve a team that may yet win the thing?
The next transfer window is seven matches away from mattering, but it is hard not to get caught up in recruitment-related hypothetical situations or to wonder how the north London club could follow up a potentially monumental season.
Via a fantasy XI of players Tottenham have been linked with in the past 12 months, the following article looks at various aspects of what may be in store.
We'll take a look at the positions that are in need of addressing, the ones that are likely not, the potential signing rumours that something could come of and others that seem little more than scuttlebutt.
First up in the nominal 4-3-3 formation, a position that as of now should not require change this summer.
Goalkeeper: Fernando Muslera
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It came somewhat out of the blue earlier in March when Galatasaray released a statement saying “no offers have been received from Tottenham Hotspur nor have negotiations taken place for our goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.”
According to the London Evening Standard’s Sam Long, it was released in response to speculation in the Turkish media.
Goalkeeper is one position a strong finish to Tottenham’s season should render a relative non-issue in the coming months.
Already under contract until 2019, that leeway coupled with the professional pride captain Hugo Lloris will have leading this bright young team forward should see Spurs have no issues there.
Back-up Michel Vorm could fancy taking on a first-choice role again elsewhere. But even if so, the recent new deals for academy goalkeepers Luke McGee and Tom Glover suggest there is faith in the ability of those youngsters to come in.
Galatasaray should have little to worry about in regards Muslera and Spurs.
Defence: Ben Chilwell
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Ben Chilwell was impressive in Leicester City’s two FA Cup fourth-round meetings with Tottenham, and the left-back has since been linked with both them and their north London rivals Arsenal—the Mirror’s Adrian Kajumba reported as much in late-January.
Chilwell’s progress will certainly be worth tracking, and it will be a surprise to see that anywhere other than Leicester next season. The cachet the title-chasing Foxes are set to cash in by securing at least a UEFA Champions League place should keep talents like the 19-year-old happy.
Besides, Pochettino is likely content with his full-back options.
Danny Rose’s good form has earned him his first England cap, while in Ben Davies, they have their own young left-back of considerable promise. On the right, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier are providing a similar healthy sense of competition.
Defence: Nicolas Nkoulou
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Tottenham have got by OK this season at centre-back.
Kevin Wimmer has covered well in the injured Jan Vertonghen’s absence. More regularly a midfielder these days, Eric Dier is on hand as an alternative to first-choice Toby Alderweireld.
These options were evidently sufficient in Pochettino’s mind.
Despite suggestions in the January transfer window Spurs were set to sign Marseille’s Nicolas Nkoulou—here, per the Independent’s James Orr—a deal did not happen. The Cameroon international carried on as normal in Ligue 1.
Defence: Marc Bartra
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As with Nkoulou, Tottenham's pursuit of Barcelona’s Marc Bartra would depend on Pochettino's confidence in his options at centre-back.
The 25-year-old was reportedly on Spurs’ radar last summer, with the Independent’s Richard Parry and Mail Online’s Pete Jenson among those linking the two.
Speculation of a transfer has since re-emerged, with the Mirror's Ed Malyon one of several talking up Tottenham's interest in the out-of-favour defender.
Given Bartra's struggle for minutes with Barca, though, the prospect of a similar battle at Tottenham may not appeal.
None of Alderweireld, Wimmer or Vertonghen will be easily displaced. A more sure-fire playing opportunity is likely to be on the Spaniard's agenda.
Midfield: Axel Witsel
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"I still have a contract for one more year come June and the club know how I feel," Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel told Belgian publication La Derniere Heure (h/t the Evening Standard's James Benge). "I would like to play in a bigger league."
One of the current highly rated generation of Belgian talent, Witsel becoming available this summer will see him attract a lot of interest. Particularly if it follows his participation in a successful UEFA European Championship campaign.
Already home to four Belgium internationals (Alderweireld and Vertonghen, as well as Nacer Chadli and Mousa Dembele), reports have said Tottenham would like to add another in Witsel. In addition to mentioning him in the aforementioned article, the Standard have been on this story's trail for a little while already—Tom Collomosse made the link last September, while Anna Lidster did so in January.
An impressive midfield all-rounder, Witsel may be someone Pochettino feels will be an upgrade on some of his players in the position, a player capable of helping them build on considerable progress this season.
Midfield: Milan Badelj and Jordan Henderson
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The trouble with Tottenham pursuing Witsel, or supposedly others like Milan Badelj, via Mail Online's Rohan Banerjee in February, and Jordan Henderson, per the Sun's Alan Nixon in March, is again the competition for places already in the position.
All are talented, proven performers whom, if available, would provide quality and depth to the Spurs midfield.
But even in the event players like Nabil Bentaleb or Tom Carroll were replaced, the new arrival would be facing a battle to displace those players who are currently driving Spurs on in the title race.
Perhaps that challenge would appeal. In the context of joining a club playing in the Champions League and maybe just crowned champions, it is one any of the assured talents mentioned would back themselves to take on.
Pochettino and those joining him in recruiting must weigh up to who can complement those who will hope to carry on where they left off. Both in terms of style and their willingness to contribute to a cause that may require them dealing with less playing time than they are used to.
Midfield: Yannick Bolasie
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On the more attacking side of things in midfield, one player linked with Tottenham last summer was Crystal Palace's Yannick Bolasie.
Nothing came of it, however, and the winger signed a new contract with the Eagles in September.
"I spoke to the Tottenham manager, Mauricio Pochettino, after last Sunday’s game and, as far as he knew, there had been no interest in Yannick going to Spurs," Eagles boss Alan Pardew said at the time, per the Guardian's Dominic Fifield.
If Spurs are going to change things up in attacking midfield, expect them to look elsewhere.
Attack: Gareth Bale
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A leaked stipulation in Gareth Bale's contract revealed that up until 2019, Spurs have first option on him in the event Real Madrid decide to sell to a Premier League club, per the Independent's Samuel Stevens.
It was one of the more intriguing transfer details to emerge in the January transfer window, one that gave Tottenham supporters tenuous hope of a reunion with one of their star players of recent times.
Bale is highly unlikely to leave Spain anytime soon. Even if he were to move, the Wales international would probably be out of Spurs' price range (not least because Real would gleefully look to return the favour after being fleeced out of a world record transfer fee when they signed him).
But with hopes of continued progression under Pochettino, it is a fantastic thought for the White Hart Lane faithful that their already exciting team could one day be strengthened further by the return of one of the world's very best players.
Attack: Laurent Depoitre
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Gent and Belgium striker Laurent Depoitre has been linked with a transfer to Tottenham since last October.
ESPN FC's Peter O'Rourke quoted the player's agent Rene Vijt, who suggested his client would be open to a move to the Premier League. The Mirror's Darren Witcoop and the Telegraph have also since linked Spurs.
Like with Witsel, Depoitre would add to the north Londoners' Belgian ranks. Unlike the midfielder, they are in greater need of attacking reinforcements, with England striker Harry Kane primarily carrying the scoring burden.
As Bleacher Report highlighted in an analysis of Depoitre in February, he may be a little too similar to Kane in some areas.
Attack: Saido Berahino
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After the drama of last summer and renewed speculation in January amounted to nothing, could Saido Berahino finally be set to join Tottenham?
The Observer's David Hytner reported in early March that a thawing of relations between Spurs and the player's current employers West Bromwich Albion had opened up the possibility. Berahino's getting back on with his job after months of discord helping his chances of being peacefully granted a move.
Unlike Depoitre, he offers something a little different to Kane. Both in terms of being a speedy alternative leading the line and also in supporting compatibility within Spurs' predominant 4-2-3-1 setup.
Whether Berahino joins Tottenham or not, the hope will be there is no repeat of tiresome previous public disputes between the parties.
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