Tottenham fans in the Football Transfer Tavern will admit they would’ve hoped for more transfer business to have been completed by this point of the season but nevertheless, there is still just over a month to conclude business.
It seems as if Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is reinforcing by one position at a time with the months passed by so far being used to strengthen his defence.
Since the transfer window opened, Spurs have brought in Kevin Wimmer from FC Koln, Kieran Trippier from Burnley and Toby Alderweireld from Southampton and on the face of it, these deals look sensible business.
But while Spurs fans will admit their defence needed strengthening, so too does the midfield and attacking ranks and it is in these areas where most excitement derives from.
In weeks gone by, Spurs have got rid of Etienne Capoue to Watford, Paulinho to Guangzhou Evergrande and Benjamin Stambouli to Paris Saint-Germain suggesting they’re clearing the deadwood for a new big name arrival in central midfield.
Spurs have been heavily linked with the signature of James McCarthy from Everton but while the Republic of Ireland international is a talented player, Tottenham fans crave a more domineering player in the position and they admit Steven N’Zonzi would’ve been perfect but he’s now joined Sevilla of course.
Harry Kane also needs some support up top and with Emmanuel Adebayor interesting Aston Villa, it seems Spurs will need another striker before the window slams shut on September 1st.
But while Tottenham assess their options, we’ve taken this moment to devise what we believe to be Spurs’ strongest eleven when everybody is fit at White Hart Lane.
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Click on the image below to reveal what we believe to be the best starting XI Tottenham can field under Mauricio Pochettino next season.
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Hugo Lloris
Tottenham’s star goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has suffered an injury in pre-season and could miss the start of the Premier League campaign but in truth, Spurs fans are relieved the club haven’t received any bids for him this summer.
Earlier in the window, it had looked as if Manchester United were earmarking a swoop for the French international to replace David De Gea but with the Spaniard staying at Old Trafford, it looks as if Lloris’ future is safe at White Hart Lane right now.
A domineering presence between the ticks, Lloris still boasts a fine reputation as a great shot stopper and although Michel Vorm is a capable deputy, Tottenham fans will hope their number one goalkeeper can come back into the fold sooner rather than later.
Kieran Trippier
Tottenham’s second capture of the summer after Kevin Wimmer was Burnley’s Kieran Trippier who was brought in at right back despite Spurs already boasting Kyle Walker and DeAndre Yedlin in the position.
Trippier ultimately got relegated with Burnley last term but this didn’t distort from the fact he enjoyed a very good season on a personal level.
Capable of bombing on down the flanks as well as not forgetting his defensive duties, Trippier is likely to become Mauricio Pochettino’s first choice at right back this season.
Kyle Walker’s career has suffered something of a nosedive while DeAndre Yedlin looks set for a loan move away from White Hart Lane despite usually being an exciting starter for the United States at international level.
Toby Alderweireld
Tottenham’s most high profile capture this summer has been Toby Alderweireld who has arrived on a permanent deal from Atletico Madrid after Diego Simeone deemed him surplus to requirements at the Vicente Calderon.
After all, Alderweireld already boasts experience of the Premier League having enjoyed a successful loan spell at Southampton last term and as it turns out, Spurs managed to beat Saints to his permanent signing this summer.
A versatile customer able to play across the entire defence or alternatively in defensive midfield, Alderweireld’s best position is at centre back where he’ll be able to play alongside an international team-mate in Jan Vertonghen.
Jan Vertonghen
Despite not enjoying the best season in a Tottenham shirt last term, most Spurs fans still single out Jan Vertonghen as one of their most important players.
Now the club’s third captain behind both Hugo Lloris and Harry Kane, Vertonghen is still a natural born leader who isn’t shy of a tackle.
He’s been deployed at left back in his time spent at White Hart Lane so far but he’s undoubtedly a better option in the centre of Tottenham’s defence and will relish playing alongside new signing and friend Toby Alderweireld.
Danny Rose
Danny Rose is not everybody’s cup of tea but he takes his place in this strongest eleven due to the fact he can be a threat when bombing forward down the left flank.
Tottenham fans demand their team to play in an expansive style and with Rose attacking from deep to support attacks, this has proved a good feature for Spurs in several games.
Sometimes shirking his defensive duties, Rose needs to improve his consistency but given the arrival of Kieran Trippier at right back, we think the pair will be noteworthy options going forward from the flanks.
Ryan Mason
Ryan Mason looked as if he was never going to break into Spurs’ first team after enduring countless loan spells away from White Hart Lane but after his performances last season, he’s now a fixture in Tottenham’s starting eleven.
Forging a breakthrough after scoring against Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup, Mason hasn’t looked back since and actually earned his first senior England cap against Italy in Turin in the spring.
Some Tottenham fans would like to see an upgrade on Mason in this position but at the same time, Spurs fans like seeing academy graduates emerge from the youth ranks and there will be an onus on the player to sustain his energy levels next term while getting even better.
Nabil Bentaleb
Signing a new deal with Spurs earlier this transfer window, Nabil Bentaleb will continue his footballing education at White Hart Lane.
Earning his big break in Spurs’ first team under Tim Sherwood, Bentaleb has been something of a fixture ever since with his towering frame in central midfield giving Tottenham a physical presence.
Like Mason, some Spurs fans would like to see a big money arrival in Bentaleb’s position brought in to start ahead of him but at the same time, both Mason and the Algerian international have struck something of a positive relationship up and we can imagine Pochettino sticking with the pair for now.
Erik Lamela
There are no more excuses for Erik Lamela any more after the Argentine finished two full seasons in the Premier League.
An eye-catcing signing that was brought in to replace the exploits of Gareth Bale, it hasn’t really worked out for Lamela at White Hart Lane so far with the former Roma man often found wanting for a lack of impact in the games he’s played.
Scoring an incredible rabona goal in the Europa League, this has proved Lamela’s single standout moment since he arrived in a Spurs shirt but given there is talent in there somewhere, it seems both Pochettino and Spurs fans are still willing to persevere with their big money arrival from Serie A.
Christian Eriksen
Scoring 13 goals in all competitions for Spurs last season, Christian Eriksen has proved one of the guys that has taken on his responsibilities since signing for Tottenham.
Earning a reputation as a late and important goalscorer for Mauricio Pochettino’s men last term, Eriksen is one of those who can usually be counted upon to stand up while producing good performances.
Something of a set-piece specialist as well, Eriksen will look to become even more of a talisman for Tottenham this time around.
Nacer Chadli
After a dismal first season as a Spurs player, Nacer Chadli went about turning around his reputation last season after scoring a respectable 13 goals in all competitions.
Improving while the likes of Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela have continued to stall, Chadli deserves some credit for this and his finest moment last season was the goal he scored away against arch-rivals Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, shushing the Gunners faithful in the process.
Still not a player who convinces all Tottenham fans, Chadli will have to sustain his improved form next term to convince everybody that Spurs don’t need reinforcements in his position on the wing.
Harry Kane
With both Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli being tied as Spurs’ second and third highest goalscorers last term on 13 strikes, it’s quite remarkable to think that they were beaten by a man who registered 36 goals.
Yes, Harry Kane blew everybody away after originally starting the season as Mauricio Pochettino’s third choice striker behind Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado.
But after he started scoring, Kane simply couldn’t stop and gave the Spurs boss no option but to play him up top and on a regular basis.
Installing Kane as captain on several occasions too, the England international is relishing in the role as Spurs’ talisman and Tottenham must do all they can to hold onto his services this summer.
