Tottenham Hotspur: Can Another Late Buy Replicate Van Der Vaart's Success?

It is generally accepted in football that, even after a successful season, it is never wise to rest on one's laurels.

Whether it was a careful study in making sure they acquired players capable of improving the team or a failure to sign their chosen targets, Tottenham went into the closing days of last summer's transfer window without making the kind of significant signings most thought their qualification for the Champions League would prompt.

We all know now that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy ended up securing the unexpected bargain signing of Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart in the dying minutes of the transfer window. This was not a deal that looked to be on the cards anywhere, especially at the reported price of £8 million, but after being alerted to the Dutchman's availability, Spurs got their big-name signing.

Van der Vaart made an immediate impact at White Hart Lane; both his performances and the goals that came with them helped his new team to a strong first half to the season, both home and abroad.

What is noticeable looking back is the similar fashion in which Tottenham's summer transfer window has thus far played out compared to its equivalent in 2010.

Outside of recruiting promising young players for the future, the only established signing to begin with last summer was William Gallas, while this year it is only Brad Friedel who has come in (both on free transfers).

Last year Harry Redknapp did not have to concern himself with warding off the attentions of potential suitors for his players as he has with Luka Modric this summer, but otherwise he has once more gone about preparing a squad of the same faces for the season ahead.

Although in the continent this year they must prepare for the Europa League rather than Champions League football, as of right now there have been few personnel changes to work on accommodating for a starting lineup that will remain largely unchanged from how it was set up last season.

Preseason games can hint at what a manager may have in mind for his team, but until the first game it is impossible to predict with any certainty.

As of this writing no further signings have been made, but this time tomorrow it might be a different story.

With that said, it is not unreasonable to assume Tottenham will once more wait until the season has begun and the transfer window is closing to bring in further reinforcements, not because they want too, but because that is when parties on both sides become more desperate to get deals done.

Most Tottenham supporters are in agreement that the area most in need of a change is in attack.

From the few transfer targets Redknapp has confirmed having an interest in, we know that is most likely his priority also.

As tantalising a prospect as it is, the chances of Spurs enticing Valencia's Juan Mata do not seem large. Spain's World Cup winner is coming off a showcase summer at the the Under-21 European Championships and, should he leave Valencia, will most likely choose a club with Champions League football this season.

Though Tottenham cannot offer that this season, there is still much to like about a move to White Hart Lane.

Despite the progress also being made amongst their rivals, most substantially at Manchester City, Spurs have a talented and, crucially, experienced squad that have proved themselves capable of contending with the best of the Premier League.

But just as important as what a player would want out of a move to Tottenham is what the team would want out of any prospective signing: an attacking player, most probably a striker, capable of coming into the squad and getting off to the kind of start van der Vaart enjoyed last season.

Of the players Redknapp has publicly declared an interest in, Emmanuel Adebayor is the one who most likely fills this criteria.

His Arsenal past will not endear him to the Tottenham support, but as showed last year with William Gallas's arriving from the Gunners, this does not mean a hostile reception.

Most importantly on the pitch, Adebayor has the kind of quality Spurs currently lack.

Adebayor is an imposing figure in the final third, strong and tall, but also a genuinely skillful footballer. Spurs fans will remember the tremendous winner he scored for their north London rivals in 2007 to secure a 3-1 victory.

Less optimistically, Adebayor does have consistency issues, something which is the main problem with Spurs' current crop of strikers.

At his current club, Manchester City, Roberto Mancini's frequent rotation of his forwards has made it difficult for the Togo striker to establish himself. At Arsenal he was used more frequently, but towards the end of his spell lost form.

Still, Redknapp and Spurs would have to hope this is an issue they can correct because Adebayor is one of the few quality players they could feasibly attract late on in the transfer window.

Though he would naturally prefer a move to Real Madrid, where he enjoyed a fairly successful loan spell earlier this year, if this does not happen, Tottenham might be his best bet for first-team football.

In the past City have been unwilling to sell or loan players to their rivals, but the chance to free up some space in a crowded squad might appeal to them. Either a cut-price transfer or a loan deal in which both clubs find a way to share Adebayor's wages would also help save some money.

Less likely than Adebayor's joining, but something that might be worth keeping an eye on, is a potential move for Giuseppe Rossi to Tottenham.

Villarreal are not keen to sell their star striker, and the latest reports indicate they are confident of him staying.

But a big-money offer from Spurs might tempt them.

Tottenham on their part might have sold Luka Modric by then and could have a whole lot of cash burning a hole in their pocket. Rossi is someone who Redknapp has also declared his interest in signing before, too.

The 24-year-old never looked out of his depth while at Manchester United, but has certainly come a long way since then and could hit the ground running back in England.

The Italian international has also been linked with both Barcelona and Juventus, but with a move to the former unlikely this summer, a return to the Premier League might be of interest. It would be a long-shot for Spurs, but should Villarreal fail to get beyond the qualifying stage of the Champions League later this month, a change of scenery might appeal to Rossi.

Having said all that, Tottenham will probably go and spend 50 million quid tomorrow now...