How Mauricio Pochettino’s White Hart Lane XI may look if he snaps up the targets he’s been after.
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris
Arguably Tottenham’s top performer and despite the arrival of useful Dutchman Michel Vorm there is no way the French international skipper won’t be one of the first names on Mauricio Pochettino’s team-sheet. Indeed the White Hart Lane side have done well to retain the player’s services given the club’s inability to secure a Champions League berth.
Left-Back: Ben Davies
Young Welshman arrives from the Liberty Stadium and should offer a more consistent option to the likes of Danny Rose and Benoit Assou-Ekotto. The 21 year old is solid in defence and creates opportunities going forward, a player with a bright future.
Centre-Back: Jan Vertonghen
Belgian was a shadow of his usual self last term but is a player with real ability who must be used in a centre-back role. Pochettino will look to the former Ajax man to keep it tight at the back after the north London club’s leaky displays in 2013/14.
Centre-Back: Mateo Musacchio (Villarreal)
By all accounts the 23 year old Argentine is likely to move to join Tottenham in the coming days. Mauricio Pochettino is keen to bring in his fellow countryman, who impressed last season in La Liga, and though youngster Eric Dier, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon in recent weeks, looks solid he is perhaps not likely to be a first team regular this term.
Right-Back: Kyle Walker
Quality performer who is the regular starter on the right-hand side of the defence though will apparently miss the start of the season through injury. The England man missed out on a 2014 World Cup finals spot but is one of the best right-backs in the Premier League.
Central Midfielder: Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
The Frenchman is known to be a Tottenham target with former Saints boss Pochettino keen to be the latest to conduct a St Mary’s raid. The 24 year old may well be tempted by such a move though the south-coast side may well have shut up shop after losing so many of their top talents already this summer.
Central Midfielder: Paulinho
Brazilian performed well in his debut season at the club and is by some distance Tottenham’s most effective midfield option and a player who can provide a steely challenge as well as a real threat in the final third. Pochettino will hope Paulinho can show a further step-up in quality in 2014/15.
Left-Wing: Memphis Depay (PSV Eindhoven)
Long running target and a player who may well be keen to make a somewhat inevitable Eredivisie exit and a winger who can offer more than the likes of Nacer Chadli, Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend. The 20 year old already proved at this summer’s World Cup his ability to make an impact at the highest level.
Supporting Striker: Christian Eriksen
By some distance the most talented of Andre Villas-Boas’s seven signings last summer and a player who weighed in with goals and assists aplenty. The Danish international has had the summer off and will return refreshed and ready to take on the Premier League’s defences with renewed verve.
Right-Wing: Erik Lamela
Yes the Argentine failed to make an impact in his first season at the club but the presence of fellow countryman Maurio Pochettino at the Tottenham helm could work wonders. We are predicting the former AS Roma man will finally deliver the goods and help repay the north London club’s faith in his very obvious abilities.
Forward: Jay Rodriguez (Southampton)
Another Southampton man and a player who could be the ideal player to lead the Tottenham line. Yes Emmanuel Adebayor showed a real return to form in the second half of 2013/14 but we feel 24 year old England man Rodriguez is the man to take the role in the coming season, providing he makes a full recovery from injury.