Tottenham Hotspur finished last season in eighth place, and structurally a bit of a mess. Antonio Conte had been removed from his managerial position and a rudderless ship was unable to play European football.
Spurs have signed Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, after paying the Hoops £5million, and the Australian’s challenge is to get the north London side back near the top of the table – with fewer fans than impressed, they fell so far behind their rivals. Arsenal last season.
There are plenty of their current stars who may or may not leave – Harry Kane in particular. The club recently revealed some of those leaving, including Lucas Moura, while Clement Lenglet and Arnaut Danjuma will not return after their loan spells end. Davinson Sanchez has also expressed his desire for an overseas challenge.
They will be expected to sign new names in a bid to become competitive again, and there have been links to suggest they could get some Harry Maguire-style defensive reinforcement, and they have made a bid for get both James Maddison and Harvey Barnes from relegated club Leicester City.
With many moving parts, it’s impossible to predict how Tottenham will take to the pitch on the opening day of the Premier League season, when they visit Brentford on Sunday August 13. Will Postecoglou drop players he’s not a fan of? Who will come when the club does not have Europe this season? The questions are endless.
But here’s how Sports Mail expects Spurs to come in a 4-3-3… if they can dig in and keep one of their biggest names.
Ange Postecoglou has big decisions to make for his departure from Tottenham Hotspur 11
Goalkeeper – David Raya
Longtime goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris is set to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after 11 years. The replacement will be closely scrutinized, not least because the Frenchman was prone to occasionally making high-profile mistakes.
Brentford’s David Raya has received praise for his shot-stopping abilities in west London – and the Bees are said to be willing to let him go for £40million.
Although Tottenham have said they believe the valuation is too high and there is competition for his signing from Manchester United, it is fair to assume that Spurs need to get a good quality goalkeeper, and Raya is about as safe as it gets. get.
Spurs are unlikely to back down from the £40m asking price for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya
Right-back – Pedro Porro
Right-back Pedro Porro will retain his place in the revamped squad as Spurs are forced to buy following a loan move in January.
He made 17 appearances in the second half of last season, including 15 in the Premier League, and it’s fair to assume Postecoglou will use the Spanish defender to the best of his abilities.
Centre-back – Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire’s time at Manchester United certainly appears to be over – the Red Devils have reportedly offered to pay the England centre-back to leave.
Tottenham Hotspur need reassurance at the back, having conceded 12 of their Premier League games since early March – keeping only a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in May.
Thus, a checklist for the early days of Postecoglou includes Maguire’s arrival in the capital. If Maguire can bring his best form to North London and Spurs can get to work defensively and sink in attack, they could form a formidable pair.
If he can capture his best form, Maguire could solve Spurs’ defensive nightmares next season
Centre-back – Cristian Romero
Cristian Romero is set to feature at the heart of Tottenham’s defense once again, having proven himself to be a valuable asset to the team over the past two seasons.
With 64 club appearances to his name at Spurs – first on loan, then as a permanent player – he is set to line up next to Maguire, with hopes of getting more clean sheets this season than the team received in 2022-23. season.
Left-Back – Destiny Udogie
Young winger Destiny Udogie has had a fine campaign on loan at Serie A club Udinese, but Tottenham’s ecosystem is totally different now, and he will be needed more than ever.
Ivan Perisic may not be at the club for very long, and Udogie would be able to defend at left-back while offering some creativity in the future.
Left-back Destiny Udogie has been loaned to Udinese but could return to Tottenham
Midfielder – Rodrigo Bentancur
Some midfield options won’t change, but others certainly will. Bentancur is expected to keep his place in the Spurs squad for now, especially as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg faces an uncertain future at Tottenham.
Postecoglou is a fan of an attacking style of football, which would be at odds with the Dane’s defensive attributes. If he comes a long way, there is more room for Bentancur to stay and prove himself to the Tottenham faithful.
Midfielder – Oliver Skipp
Midfielder Oliver Skipp came through Tottenham Hotspur’s junior system, before becoming a senior player in 2018. Now 22, he is a key cog in the potential midfielder who could be used 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 alternate will be hugely helpful as Spurs look to fire on all cylinders – and try to chase a domestic trophy to stop. all non-sayers.
Midfielder – James Maddison
Leicester City’s relegation means a number of very big players are now on the market. Aston Villa have already nabbed Youri Tielemans, and Mail Sport have revealed how Tottenham made a £50million bid for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
Although the initial offer was rejected by the Foxes, there’s no way they’ll retain the services of either – especially Maddison, who traveled to the World Cup with the England team after proving themselves in the Premier League.
He’ll also be a great fit in Tottenham’s midfield, you’d expect, and would be able to create his own cracking opportunities or provide for those in front of him, especially those he’s worked with before.
Harvey Barnes and James Maddison would both agree if they could be bought
Striker – Harvey Barnes
Leicester are unlikely to keep Harvey Barnes either, and even if the initial offer was low, Tottenham will be imagining their chances of having him on their side next year.
The 2021 FA Cup winner has experience winning silverware, and in his 187 games for the Foxes he has proven to be one of the Premier League’s best guns – that’s exactly why Spurs would want him.
It will be difficult to enter the Tottenham front line at the best of times, and there are never any guarantees, but if he were to move from the Midlands to the capital it is unclear what he could offer to the Postecoglou team. Especially if he can work with Maddison again.
Striker – Son Heung-min
Constantly making options for forward play, stepping up crucial goals and setting them up on the attacking side, Son Heung-min has been terrific at Tottenham, linking up with Harry Kane.
He will be part of the Spurs squad no matter who comes – and who leaves – and you can guarantee he will be one of the first names on the team sheet when Postecoglou takes charge of the Premier League in August. .
Son Heung-min could team up with his man again if they go deeper into Harry Kane
Striker – Harry Kane
Is Harry Kane leaving? We do not know. Is there a big enough supply for Spurs bigwigs to sell to a Premier League rival like Manchester United? Would Kane go abroad to Real Madrid – and miss the Premier League record? Is there anything else, anything unforeseen? There are so many things we don’t know.
If there’s no future for him elsewhere, the England captain is much adored at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium – and if anyone can make Spurs even better, it’s probably Harry Kane. And he also worked with Maddison in the English setup.
He *could* leave, of course – and Postecoglou would likely bring in Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi if that happened – but if he stays, Kane is on the front line. And score more goals. The Premier League record is coming.
