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Tottenham Hotspur finished last season in eighth place, and structurally a bit of a mess. Antonio Conte had been released from the managerial role, and a rudderless ship was not able to make European football.
Spurs signed up Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, after paying the Hoops £5m in compensation, and the Australian’s challenge is to get the North London side back fighting near the top of the table again – with fans less than impressed they fell so far behind their rivals Arsenal last season.
There are a lot of their current stars who may or may not be leaving – Harry Kane especially. The club recently revealed some of those leaving, including Lucas Moura, while Clement Lenglet and Arnaut Danjuma will not be returning after their loan spells ended. Davinson Sanchez has also expressed his desire for a challenge abroad.
They will be expected to sign new names in a bid to get competitive again, and there have been links suggesting they might get defensive reinforcement in the way of Harry Maguire, and they’ve made a bid to get both James Maddison and Harvey Barnes from relegated club Leicester City.
With a lot of moving parts, it is impossible to predict how Tottenham will step out onto the pitch on the opening day of the Premier League season, when they travel to Brentford on Sunday August 13. Will Postecoglou jettison players he’s not a fan of? Who will come in when the club doesn’t have Europe this season? The questions are endless.
But here is how Mail Sport expects Spurs to turn-up in a 4-3-3… if they can dig in and keep hold of one of their biggest names.
Ange Postecoglou has some big decisions to make for his Tottenham Hotspur starting 11
Goalkeeper – David Raya
Long-serving goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris is set to depart the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after 11 years. The replacement will be scrutinised, particularly because the Frenchman was prone to making the occasional high-profile error.
Brentford’s David Raya has earned significant praise for his shot-stopping abilities in West London – and the Bees would be willing to let him leave for £40m.
While Tottenham have said that they think the valuation is too high, and there is competition for his signature from Manchester United, it is fair to assume that Spurs need to secure a good quality goalkeeper, and Raya is about as safe as you can get.
Spurs should not baulk at the £40m asking price for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya
Right-back – Pedro Porro
Right-back Pedro Porro will keep his place in the revamped side, because Spurs have an obligation to buy following a loan move in January.
He made 17 appearances in the second half of last season, 15 of which were in the Premier League, and it is fair to assume that Postecoglou will utilise the Spanish defender to the best of his abilities.
Centre-back – Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire’s time at Manchester United looks certain to be over – with the Red Devils reportedly offering to pay the England centre-back to go away.
Tottenham Hotspur need reassurance at the back, having conceded in 12 of their Premier League games since the beginning of March – only keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in May.
So a check-list for Postecoglou’s first few days includes bringing Maguire to the capital. If Maguire can bring his best form to North London, and Spurs can get themselves working defensively as well as flowing in attack, they could form a formidable pairing.
If he can capture his best form, Maguire could solve Spurs’ defensive nightmares next season
Centre-back – Cristian Romero
Cristian Romero is set to be featured in the heart of Tottenham’s defence once again, having proven himself to be a valuable asset to the side in the past two seasons.
With 64 club appearances to his name at Spurs – first on loan, then as a permanent player – he is expected to line-up next to Maguire, with a hope at securing more clean sheets this season than the side received in the 2022-23 season.
Left-back – Destiny Udogie
Young wing back Destiny Udogie has had a fine campaign on loan at Serie A club Udinese, but the eco-system at Tottenham is totally different now, and he’ll be needed now more than ever.
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Ivan Perisic may not be staying at the club very much longer, and Udogie would be able to defend in the left-back position while offering some creativity going forward.
Left-back Destiny Udogie has been on loan at Udinese, but would fit back in at Tottenham
Midfield – Rodrigo Bentancur
Some midfield options won’t change, but others certainly will. Bentancur is set to keep his place in the Spurs team for the time being, especially as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is facing an uncertain future at Tottenham.
Postecoglou is a fan of an attacking style of football, which would be contradictory to the Dane’s defensive attributes. If he makes way, there’s more room for Bentancur to stay and prove himself to the Tottenham faithful.
Midfield – Oliver Skipp
Midfielder Oliver Skipp came through the junior system at Tottenham Hotspur, before becoming a senior player in 2018. Now aged 22, he is a key cog in the potential midfield that might be utilised by Postecoglou next season.
He may just keep his place in the line-up ahead of Yves Bissouma, but even just having those two options to rotate between will be extremely helpful as Spurs look to get themselves firing on all cylinders – and try to pursue a domestic trophy to stop all of the nay-sayers.
Midfield – James Maddison
Leicester City’s relegation means that a number of very big players are now on the market. Aston Villa have already nabbed Youri Tielemans, and Mail Sport revealed how Tottenham put in a £50m bid for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
While the initial offer was rejected by the Foxes, there is no way they will retain the services of either – especially Maddison, who travelled to the World Cup with the England squad after proving himself in the Premier League.
He’ll be a great fit in Tottenham’s midfield too, you would expect, and would be able to set up his own cracking opportunities, or provide to those in front of him – especially those he’s worked with previously.
Harvey Barnes and James Maddison would both be great fits if they can be purchased
Forward – Harvey Barnes
Leicester are unlikely to hold onto Harvey Barnes either, and while the initial offer was low, Tottenham will fancy their chances of getting him for their side next year.
The 2021 FA Cup winner has experience in winning silverware, and in his 187 games for the Foxes, he proved himself to be one of the top guns in the Premier League – which is exactly why Spurs would want him.
It will be difficult to get into the Tottenham frontline at the best of times, and there’s never any guarantees, but if he did move from the Midlands to the capital, there’s no telling what he could offer to Postecoglou’s team. Especially if he can work with Maddison again.
Forward – Son Heung-min
Constantly making options for forward play, stepping up with crucial goals, and setting them up in the attacking end, Son Heung-min has been great at Tottenham, linking up with Harry Kane.
He’ll be a part of the Spurs team whoever comes – and whoever goes – and you can guarantee he’ll be one of the first names on the teamsheet when Postecoglou steps up to the Premier League plate in August.
Son Heung-min would be able to team up with his man again if they dig in deep on Harry Kane
Forward – Harry Kane
Is Harry Kane leaving? We don’t know. Is there a big enough offer to make the Spurs bigwigs sell to a Premier League rival like Manchester United? Would Kane go abroad to Real Madrid – and miss out on the Premier League record? Is there something else, something unforeseen? There’s so much we do not know.
If there’s no future for him elsewhere, the England captain is very much adored at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – and if anyone can make Spurs great again, it’s probably Harry Kane. And he’s worked with Maddison in the England set-up too.
He *might* leave, of course – and Postecoglou would likely bring Kyogo Furuhashi from Celtic if that happened – but if he stays, Kane’s in the frontline. And scoring more goals. The Premier League record is coming.
