Tottenham's transfer activity is very much going to be in the spotlight this summer as they start a brand new era under Ange Postecoglou. Finishing eighth in the 2022/23 season and missing out on a European spot in the process, Spurs must ensure that it was a one-off and they get back on track and push for a top-four finish right away.
It will take time for Postecoglou to implement his football philosophy following his move from Celtic but Tottenham fans will be entertained and get the attractive football they desire once everything clicks into place. New signings are going to be required as part of the much-needed rebuild, with a new goalkeeper, centre-back and attacking midfielder very high on his list of transfer priorities.
As much as fans will be focusing on incomings between now and the transfer deadline on Friday, September 1, what Tottenham do in terms of outgoings is going to be vitally important as they look to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours under Postecoglou. Some tough decisions need to be made as a number of players must move on elsewhere for a fresh challenge as Tottenham devise a plan for a brighter future.
One year ago when Antonio Conte was plotting for the new season, four of his squad were informed that they were not part of his plans and could depart. Permanent transfers for Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks never came to fruition though as the quartet headed out on loan.
Now set to return to Hotspur Way for pre-season training ahead of the new term, question marks hang over the quartet as Postecoglou will be keen to take a look at all the players at his disposal before deciding on his squad. Tottenham, in theory, should be able to sell Lo Celso, who has been linked with Aston Villa, permanently if he is to be given the green light to exit.
Spurs will make a big loss on the Argentina international, however, as they will struggle to get anywhere near the £42million they shelled out for him after his initial loan move was made permanent in January 2020. Quite clearly a transfer failure with the player unable to replicate his best form on a consistent basis and live up to his hefty price tag, the same goes for Ndombele who joined in the same summer as his fellow midfielder.
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Spending the past 18 months away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on loan at Lyon and Napoli, the Frenchman has all the qualities to be a huge hit in the game but he has again failed to find his top form on a regular basis. Playing a bit-part role for Italian champions Napoli, Ndombele is made for Postecoglou's Tottenham system but his work off the ball in all likelihood will prove to be his undoing.
If he is to leave Spurs once again, clubs aren't exactly going to be queuing up for his services, as was the case 12 months ago, due to his poor form on the whole. Reguilon's injury-hit season perhaps hasn't helped his case in terms of a permanent move, although he could potentially come into Postecoglou's thinking as Spurs will revert to playing with full-backs rather than wing-backs.
Sticking with the current defenders at the club, Tottenham ideally need a complete overhaul at centre-back as they look to upgrade a problem position. Needing to bring in one or two quality centre-backs, preferably on the same level as Cristian Romero, Spurs may also require another addition there depending on outgoings.
This could be the summer Davinson Sanchez heads off for a new challenge amid plenty of talk about an exit over the past couple of years. Perhaps someone that should have been moved on a year or two ago, the Colombian needs a fresh start somewhere else as he looks to get his career back on track and play week in, week out.
Again, Spurs will make a loss on the Colombian if he is to depart on a permanent basis after signing him for £42million in 2017. A decision also needs to be made over Eric Dier this summer, especially due to his contract situation as he gets set to enter the final 12 months of his Tottenham contract.
Either the club move him on or they offer him fresh terms to ensure that they don't lose him for nothing this time next year. Dier's fluctuating form over the course of the 2022/23 campaign could potentially impact a permanent move if he isn't to be in Postecoglou's thoughts.
Completing the current Spurs centre-backs who could move on over the coming weeks are Joe Rodon and Japhet Tanganga. Heading out on loan to Rennes last summer rather than exiting permanently, the Wales international ideally needs to depart Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for good after finding his football limited over the past three seasons following his move from Swansea City.
An exit for Tanganga could finally happen after he remained in N17 last campaign despite plenty of talk regarding a switch to AC Milan. Hampered by injury once again and limited to only seven appearances for the Lilywhites, Tanganga, for his own sake, needs to kickstart his career elsewhere.
With a large number of Tottenham players either moving to the club for big money and not living up to their price tag or just simply struggling for form, Postecoglou will soon discover the brutal reality facing Levy in the transfer market when it comes to moving players on. Another potential factor that could have a major say in transfer outgoings is that the high wages in the Premier League can't always be matched by other sides in Europe unless it is the very best clubs who can offer that kind of money.
It really isn't as straightforward as saying X, Y and Z will seal transfers away as last year highlighted that permanent moves aren't always there for players you would expect to be attracting plenty of interest. Levy has some very big calls to make this summer when it comes to building Postecoglou's dream Tottenham squad to take the club forward once again.
Hopefully they will be the right ones.
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