The Hard Tackle analyses the business conducted by Tottenham in the summer transfer window, as there were a few exciting ins and outs.
Tottenham were lucky to finish fifth in last season’s Premier League after their inconsistent run at the back end of that campaign. Ange Postecoglou would have seen how the season went to its peak early on, and then the rapid descent would have made him worried about their short-term prospect.
Spurs began the previous campaign with the best record of any manager in the space of 8-10 games in terms of points collected. Tottenham fans began dreaming about a potential title challenge at that point. Still, Postecoglou remained grounded in the idea, as a few injuries in the coming period started showing signs of derailment.
Tottenham entered the summer with the idea of spending significantly if needed to strengthen the squad; for Postecoglou, the realistic target would have been breaking into the top four, and at the stage in which Spurs are battling, they needed money to spend and strengthen the squad in many areas.
The same has been done for most of their top four rivals, barring Newcastle United, who barely spent anything on recruits. However, the likes of Manchester United and Aston Villa have done so. At the same time, Brighton & Hove Albion could also be considered in this category of Tottenham’s top-four rivals based on their spending patterns.
The window has laid bare what every team wants. The relatively low spending of the established top three, in contrast to the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United, Brighton and Aston Villa, showcased which teams needed more reinforcements and changes than the others. Spurs have had a decent window as we analyse further who came in and who bowed out.
Ins and outs
Ange Postecoglou had to make a lot of decisions in terms of outgoings as there were a lot of deadwood and unhappy players. The manager did not count on many others, as the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Bryan Gil, and Japhet Tanganga were all out of the first-team plans ahead of the new season.
There were a few performing stars who have phased out of the plans, such as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Emerson Royal, with the club finding the proper suitors for those players, as well as Oliver Skipp and Giovani Lo Celso.
The sales were not huge in terms of incoming money but essential in the context of the squad building undertaken by Postecoglou. Then again, the loan exits are a bid to structure deals, with most of those players not part of the plans under the Australian manager, as they are not considered good enough for one reason or another.
Outs: Emerson Royal, Oliver Skipp, Giovani Lo Celso, Joe Rodon,
Free Transfers Out: Ivan Perisic, Eric Dier, Tanguy Ndombele, Japhet Tanganga, Ryan Sessegnon,
Loaned Out: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Bryan Gil, Dane Scarlett, Alejo Veliz, Ashley Phillips, Manor Solomon
As Tottenham entered the summer window, the main emphasis on major incomings this season that not only improve the first team but also the squad depth. The context here is that the 12 outgoings, including the free transfers, are not part of their plans. Postecoglou wanted players he could trust, and much like any top team, the target was to have a trimmed squad and group of set individuals the manager could trust at any given time of the game or the season.
Ins: Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert, Lucas Bergvall, Min-hyeok Yang
Marquee Signing
Dominic Solanke
Since the transfer window slammed shut on Friday night, it appears that Tottenham’s £65 million outlay on Dominic Solanke was the most significant purchase in the Premier League. It also broke Spurs’ transfer record, with the previous incumbent being Tanguy Ndombele, who has joined OGC Nice on a free transfer.
On the Solanke signing, Postecoglou had wanted a new No.9, and Spurs, in general, had not replaced Harry Kane after his departure to Bayern Munich last season. Hence, this arrival is an essential one for Tottenham’s plans, as the former Bournemouth star gives the manager a better option up front than Richarlison and then uses Son Heung-min on the left wing, which is his preferred position.
Value for Money Signing
Archie Gray
Ange Postecoglou has been successfully using different midfield pairings since becoming Tottenham’s manager and adding another talent there would improve his ideas in the middle. The arrival of Archie Gray helps Spurs replace Hojbjerg’s minutes in the middle and lets them plan for the future with the former Leeds United star.
Other clubs were interested in Gray, but Tottenham were swift in negotiations and made a compelling offer in terms of the project for the exciting midfielder. While coming to the Premier League with a massive fee on his shoulders is a matter of pressure for the young star, he has shown the maturity to cope with it, which is a big sign in terms of mentality.
Inevitable Departure
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Hojbjerg ties with Emerson Royal, although it appeared that the midfielder was intent on taking up a new challenge as he wanted to keep playing regularly. Since Postecoglou joined in, the Dane, who was a regular until then, was well down the midfield pecking order, even behind the injury-prone Rodrigo Bentancur.
Hojbjerg was also angling for an exit last January. However, the absence of first-choice midfield pairing Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma due to the AFCON forced Tottenham to keep the Danish international. Come the summer, he has joined Marseille on loan, as he would not prefer a return to north London in the future.
The Big Miss
Conor Gallagher
Tottenham had their set sights on Conor Gallagher since last summer, and while there are ample complications in bringing in a midfielder from Chelsea, the deal did seem like something they should have at least tried. Then again, it was up to the midfielder to decide on his final destination, and he appeared completely happy heading to Atletico Madrid in what was a complicated move in the end.
However, from Tottenham’s point of view, they might have benefitted from signing Gallagher, as he could have improved their midfield drastically. While they would have had to pay significantly more than what Atletico did, it would have still been a statement signing for them in the context of where they want to be in the hierarchy of things in the battle for the top four.
Verdict – 6/10
A transfer window verdict should be decided at the end of each campaign rather than at the very start of it. However, here we are to say what the overarching feeling is about Tottenham’s business in the summer, and it does feel like a 6 out of 10 window for them.
They have brought in that much-needed striker and midfielders this summer, but they might have hurt their defensive depth. Why Ange Postecoglou and the club decided against defensive reinforcements is the big question, especially with UEFA Europa League football on the horizon.
Moreover, their heavy investment in talents like Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall is a risky prospect, considering they are not very experienced and undoubtedly untested in the Premier League for large parts. However, the lack of an additional centre-back and proper covers for their existing full-backs, coupled with a pending replacement for Emerson Royal, might come to hurt Tottenham, which does reduce their rating.
