Spurs' Transfer Plans Are a Total Mystery

A number of factors make it almost impossible to tell exactly what Tottenham Hotspur intend to do in this summer’s transfer window. For one, they have a brand new head coach in Mauricio Pochettino, who has yet to meet and evaluate his squad. While he may already have in mind who he wants to keep and who he wants he sell, it seems unlikely that drastic changes would be made before he has a chance to see his players in person. Secondly, a number of current Spurs players could be described as “unsettled”. Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Sandro, Paulinho and even Erik Lamela have been rumored to be exploring their options, which may include leaving the club. 

The departures of these or other current squad members would directly alter the team’s strategy, as new positional holes would open up and the money made from any sales would increase the budget for new players. Perhaps most importantly from an outsider perspective, we have no way of knowing precisely what amount of money Daniel Levy has allotted for the transfer budget in the first place. Unlike last season, when Gareth Bale’s transfer meant a massive influx of cash into Tottenham’s coffers, this summer we can only speculate how much spending money Franco Baldini will have. Reports have suggested around £50 million, but who knows how firm that number is, and how it might be adjusted if Spurs sell players before making any purchases. 

One of Baldini's great successes in his first transfer window was basically pre-spending the Bale money, setting up a series of transfers with the understanding that the funds would appear if and when the deal with Real Madrid was finalized. By laying the ground work, Spurs were able to move extraordinarily quickly to wrap up their moves as soon as the money was available. Considering the uncertainty regarding possible sales this summer, and the fact that there isn't a single player who would command a massive fee, it's doubtful that Baldini could repeat this trick. But then again, those of us outside the club don't know how close certain key players are to the exit door. It's absolutely possible that Spurs have a set of targets in mind in the event that a Hugo Lloris or Jan Vertonghen force a move. Seeing a theme here?

Should Spurs hang on to their "unsettled" players, only a few positions need serious reinforcement (or upgrading). It's been music to fans' ears to hear that Pochettino has identified left back, central defense and striker as positions of need. The £50 million that's been floated should be more than sufficient to address these holes but probably means there won't be a single massive purchase. Considering that despite selling Jake Livermore, Spurs have a glut of central midfielders (especially with the pending return of English Xavi Tom Carroll and the emergence of Nabil Bentaleb), it wouldn't be surprising to see Baldini trim the numbers some there. Any midfield additions, such as the bizarre rumored deal for 33-year-old Esteban Cambiasso would necessitate at least one midfielder (but probably two) going in the other direction.

It's fair to predict that beyond some minor repairs Spurs likely won't be making any big splashes in the transfer market unless there is a dramatic departure from the current squad. More to come as things develop.