Five players who could depart and join at White Hart Lane this summer.
Out: Benoit Assou-Ekotto
The Cameroon left-back had been a key first team player under previous boss Harry Redknapp, but has found games harder to come by under Andre Villas-Boas this season. Understood to be on the transfer list, the 29-year-old former Lens defender is being linked with moves back to France’s Ligue 1, possibly with big-spending Monaco. Despite his ability to score the occasional wonder goal, Spurs could probably benefit from his sale as it would give them an opportunity to improve the left-back position.
Out: Danny Rose
Another left-back who is likely to be shown the door by Tottenham this summer is Danny Rose. The youngster has impressed on loan at Sunderland this season, earning special praise from Black Cats manager Paolo Di Canio. The north east side hope to sign the 22-year-old permanently, and could do so as Spurs are probably not going to keep him. A few other Premier League clubs might show an interest in the talented England Under-21 international, and Spurs may regret letting Rose go in the long run, as likely as it seems now, with Villas-Boas eyeing up a few of his own targets in the transfer market.
Out: Emmanuel Adebayor
The former Arsenal striker has been a big disappointment for Tottenham this season, after the club fought hard to sign the Togo international from Manchester City on a permanent basis following a good loan spell last year. The 29-year-old has just five league goals this season and has to go down as a flop who will surely be shown the door at the end of the campaign. He is one of many big names being targeted by big-spending Ligue 2 side Monaco for their return to Ligue 1 next season. Despite his reputation as a strong target man, he simply hasn’t done enough to justify his place at a top Premier League club, after a poor few seasons at City as well since leaving Arsenal.
Out: David Bentley
Incredibly, Spurs once paid £15million for David Bentley, and will now struggle to offload the attacking midfielder. The 28-year-old has had numerous loan spells at Birmingham City, West Ham, Blackburn Rovers and even a short-lived spell in Russia with FC Rostov. Another player formerly of Arsenal that has somehow managed to fool Spurs into signing him, but who they will now be desperate to get rid of if anyone will take him. With his contract expiring at the end of next season, they may have to wait and keep hold of him a little longer, as it’s hard to see why anyone would want to spend significant money on this flop.
Out: Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe has spent most of his career with Tottenham, and there have been many ups and downs along the way. Despite a decent goals record for the club, he is perhaps a good example of a player who should have been improved on earlier for Spurs to step their game up to another level. The 30-year-old has always been a talented finisher, but his all-round game is not good enough to make him a crucial part of the Spurs team. Once highly rated as one of the best young talents in England, he has not really developed into the player everyone thought he would be when he was at West Ham. A return to his old team at Upton Park has emerged as a possibility, and it may be time for Spurs to call time on his White Hart Lane career and sign a player who can help them go from top four hopefuls to genuine title challengers.
In: Alvaro Pereira (Inter Milan)
Given that Spurs will probably let go of their two left-backs Assou-Ekotto and Rose this summer, their link to Alvaro Pereira makes sense. The Uruguayan, currently at Inter Milan, worked under Andre Villas-Boas during their time at Porto, and the Spurs boss therefore knows him well. The player himself insists he is happy to stay at Inter, but he may not have a say as the club will probably sell him if a good offer comes in, due to him not being seen as a key first team player at the San Siro.
In: Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Another player who could be a great long term solution to Tottenham’s left-back problem is exciting Southampton youngster Luke Shaw. The 17-year-old has had a tremendous season in the Premier League this season and is now considered hot property, with Chelsea and Arsenal considering offers for the player. Spurs have also been linked, and selling the likes of Rose and Assou-Ekotto could be a masterstroke if it raises funds for one of the best young English players in the country, who could be a star down their left hand side for many years to come, and follow in the footsteps of Gareth Bale, who also left the Saints for Spurs as a youngster, and became one of the best players in the world. Kyle Walker on the right and Shaw on the left has the potential to be a fantastic attacking full-back combination for both Spurs and England, and it would be wonderful to see.
In: Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla)
The Spanish striker has been a top forward in La Liga for a number of years now, and is said to be keen on a move to England. The 27-year-old nearly joined Everton in January, and reports suggest they could compete with Spurs for him this summer. Arsenal have also been linked with him, and Atletico Madrid apparently see him as a decent replacement for when Radamel Falcao surely leaves the club this summer. Still, Spurs would be wise to take advantage of Negredo’s desire to move to English football and do their best to land this talented finisher, who would surely be more reliable in front of goal than the current inconsistent pairing of Defoe and Adebayor.
In: Anderson (Manchester United)
The Brazilian midfielder has not lived up to his potential at Manchester United, and they are likely to move him on this summer. A move way be just what he needs as well, and Spurs would be wise to recognise his great potential and help him achieve it at White Hart Lane. With the likes of Scott Parker and Sandro having injury-plagued seasons, and Moussa Dembele and Gylfi Sigurdsson struggling for consistency, Anderson’s all-round box-to-box ability in midfield could be a great addition to Villas-Boas’ side. Still only 25 and possibly available for cheap, this looks like being a good piece of business if it happens.
In: Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)
The news that Real Madrid have put the immensely talented Gonzalo Higuain up for sale is good news for Tottenham, who have been linked quite strongly with a move for the Argentine. The 25-year-old has an impressive tally of 120 goals in 262 appearances for Real, and is very unfortunate to find himself down the pecking order at the club. The truth is, as much as he’s rated at the Bernebeu, he is probably one of the players being transfer listed to help raise funds for a mega bid for Spurs’ Gareth Bale.
Of course they won’t want to lose their Welsh wing wizard, but they could soften the blow by landing themselves Higuain as part of a swap deal, as it’s not often strikers as good as that will come along so easily. The world class finisher would be a big step up from Defoe and Adebayor and would surely be a hit in the Premier League. Big clubs like Juventus, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City obviously think so, as they have all been chasing him as well, though Spurs may hold an advantage with the Bale situation. This would be a fantastic acquisition and give Villas-Boas’ side a massive boost in their bid for Champions League football and trophies next season.