To buy or not to buy? In a summer where Premier League spending is reaching unparalleled levels, Tottenham’s lack of activity in the transfer market stands out.
Spurs finished second to Chelsea last season and reached the FA Cup semi-finals. Mauricio Pochettino’s side need to kick on in the coming campaign and win some silverware. They cannot afford another catastrophic Champions League group stage like the one they experienced last year. The pressure is on.
Opening the chequebook will not guarantee Tottenham’s progress. Their reluctance to chase big-money targets makes sense. Of all the sides in the top six, Spurs have the best starting XI. Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United all need to strengthen their first teams. They are buying players who they expect to be first choice. Pochettino’s requirements are different. The Argentinian needs depth.
Any recruits will be required to slot into the side and not look out of their depth but they also have to accept their roles as squad players. Pochettino has put together a close-knit group where team spirit is good. A miserable reserve who is constantly knocking on the manager’s door demanding a first-team place could disrupt the mood.
The same is true of any big-money buys. Tottenham’s salary structure is tightly controlled and bonus-based. They pay the lowest amount in wages in the top six but, for the moment, the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli are content. That would probably change if a newcomer arrived with the sort of wages that come with huge transfer fees.
If the deal to bring Ross Barkley to north London is going to take place then the Everton midfielder needs to lower his financial expectations. Spurs are unlikely to pay the 23-year-old anywhere near the £100,000 he is looking for. If they did, Kane would be at the head of the queue at Daniel Levy’s office demanding a rise. Spurs also need to pay for the rebuilding of White Hart Lane. That outlay guarantees that there will be no wild spending on either fees or salaries.
Perhaps the most telling game last season was the Cup semi-final against Chelsea. Antonio Conte was able to introduce Eden Hazard and Diego Costa in the second half against a tiring Tottenham and the two Chelsea attackers transformed the game. Conte’s first team was never as strong as Pochettino’s but the Italian’s bigger squad allowed him more flexibility and options. That made the difference in the semi final — and the title race.
On the evidence of recent summers, Levy will do his business towards the end of the window. The Tottenham chairman is a fearsome negotiator and he has already underlined his ability by squeezing £50 million out of Manchester City for Kyle Walker. If he spots some value in the market, Levy will act. He is as conscious as anyone at the club about the need for depth.
More than anything, Spurs need a backup for Kane. Vincent Janssen had an underwhelming first season but finding a reliable striker is a pricey business. Javier Hernandez’s move from Bayer Leverkusen to West Ham appears reasonable at around £16m but the Hammers are paying the Mexican in the region of £140,000 per week.
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The main positive for Spurs going into the new season is that they have a tried-and-tested first team with quality across the pitch. None of their title rivals can say the same.
Pochettino will enter the campaign with a team he can rely on. The future looks good, too, with Josh Onomah, Kyle Walker-Peters and Cameron Carter-Vickers coming through. Spurs do not need to splash the cash this summer.