Who Should Be Tottenham Hotspur's No. 1 Summer Transfer Target?
Tottenham Hotspur have one match left this season, with the task of securing second place in the Premier League still at hand. Yet after the disappointment of missing out on the title, the present understandably holds less fascination.
The future of this team and what it could achieve with head coach Mauricio Pochettino is quickly taking precedence, and with it speculation over who will be chief among their transfer targets this summer.
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Speaking after Tottenham's 2-1 loss with Southampton, Pochettino sensibly pointed out that improving his team is not just about new signings.
"I have a very clear [idea] the areas we need to improve and how," the Argentinian said. "Doesn’t mean that we need to add players, means that we need to improve. The same players that we have need to move on and improve. Some players in different situations—tactical, mentality and different things.
"But the most important thing is we know how."
While he's understandably keen to reiterate the worth of those already at the club, bringing in new players is as much a part of improving them as anything else. Keeping current first-teamers on their toes with competition for places, as well as lightening the workload for some.
Pochettino's intentions for his central midfield will be interesting to see.
In the resurgent Mousa Demble, refocused Eric Dier and—a little further forward—the precocious Dele Alli, he has three of the division's best performers in this position in 2015-16. Numbers wise Spurs look fine, too, with the department full but feeling less bloated than a year ago, when Etienne Capoue and Benjamin Stambouli were marginalised and Paulinho was also on his way out.
Nonetheless, Pochettino has already proved he is not a manager to rest on his laurels. The downgrading of Nabil Bentaleb's and Ryan Mason's statuses this season have been examples to his whole squad of the need for continued progression and a good helping of fortune.
Spurs are in decent shape at full-back, with the improved Danny Rose and Kyle Walker supported by Ben Davies and Kieran Trippier. The latter two are likely to be better for their experiences this season, while USA international DeAndre Yedlin will be back from his loan at Sunderland—though he may find he is best served with a move elsewhere.
Central defence falls more into the aforementioned criteria of needing to augment, motivate and aid the current group with a new addition.
With Kevin Wimmer having shown he is a worthy alternative to Jan Vertonghen, albeit still learning, an equivalent right-sided backup to Toby Alderweireld would not go amiss. Dier twice covered for the Spurs members' Player of the Year (see above) in cup games when he could arguably have done with a rest himself (while impressive in midfield this season, a more permanent return to centre-back should not be ruled out).
It is the Tottenham attack that Pochettino and the recruitment staff are likely to prioritise, however, chiefly the need to bring in at least one player to avoid the riskier reliance on Harry Kane this season.
As the Premier League's second-top scorers (68 goals, two behind Manchester City), Spurs have got by alright. The excellent Kane has himself struck 24 here, plus three in cup competitions.
While last summer's new signings Heung-Min Son and Clinton Njie have not yet developed into the alternatives they were partially signed in mind to be, Son joined others like Alli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela in contributing goals. Pochettino's predominantly used 4-2-3-1 formation placed an emphasis on the involvement of these attacking midfielders.
Still, Spurs have missed the directness a more out-and-out striker provides. A goal-getter to cover for Kane in his absence or quiet periods, as well as offer something a little different stylewise.
Games like last Sunday's loss to Southampton and the recent, costly 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion were crying out for a change of pace. Both opponents defended resolutely, but Spurs may have had more luck breaking them down with a more intimidating or additional forward presence to call on.
The past few months have already seen several names linked with fulfilling this role. The Mirror's Darren Witcoop reported on Spurs' interest in Gent's Laurent Depoitre, while Ed Malyon of the same paper added Gianluca Lapadula's name to the list of potential targets.
A little more recently, Marseille's Michy Batshuayi has been linked with a switch to White Hart Lane, with Mail Online's Jack Gaughan and the London Evening Standard's Vaishali Bhardwaj talking up that possibility.
The name that still stands out and makes most sense to be the club's No. 1 transfer target is West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino. This writer outlined the 22-year-old's suitability to Spurs as recently as last month, and not for the first time, either.
Yet despite Berahino struggling since the north Londoners failed to sign him last summer, he remains a good fit for Pochettino's side, and it would be a surprise not to see them pursue him again.
Capable of leading the line or being deployed in support of a frontman (either behind or from the flank), he could work with Kane or instead of him. His speed and ability to beat an opponent is capped off with a finishing prowess that makes him more of a danger than Spurs' current attacking midfielders.
His game already in need of fine-tuning (mostly improving the consistency of his finishing), Berahino has stagnated this year. Nevertheless, he is the kind of raw, young talent Pochettino likes to work with.
Spurs need a player whose skill set can be adapted to the aggressive, relentless demands of this Tottenham team, but who is already at a level he should quickly adapt. A vital requirement as they look to push on into a future they hope will be even better than the already positive present.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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