Tottenham Hotspur, as is so often the case, have been linked with a hatful of players ahead of the summer transfer market.
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Off the pace in the race for the Champions League once more, there’s little doubt that Spurs need reinforcements.
Indeed, Mauricio Pochettino will likely be licking his lips at the prospect of offloading some of the considerable deadwood in the squad and financing his own makeover of the Lilywhites’ options.
In this article we run down one realistic signing Tottenham might make from each of their Premier League rivals.
Arsenal: Mathieu Flamini
Transfers between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are rare, but they do happen.
William Gallas is just one example of a player who left the Emirates Stadium when his time working with Arsene Wenger was up and opted to sign-on with the club’s fierce rivals.
Perhaps experienced midfielder Mathieu Flamini could be set to do the same this summer.
Out of contract with the Gunners, the France international is still only 31 and could be an effective backup for the likes of Nabil Bentelab and Ryan Mason.
Aston Villa: Ron Vlaar
Tottenham are desperate for decent centre-backs. Eric Dier hasn’t quite worked out…at least not yet…and Younes Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches are linked with the exit door.
They could do a lot worse than turn to the experienced Vlaar, who is coming to the end of his contract at Villa Park.
Spurs may well, however, face competition for his signature from Manchester United.
Fabien Delph and Christian Benteke might be other tempting options for Pochettino.
Burnley: Danny Ings
It’s a guarantee that Danny Ings will leave Burnley when his contract comes to an end this summer. Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked to the forward, but might Tottenham try and spoil the party?
With the club hoping to offload Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor this summer, they will be short of attackers, and Ings might be encouraged by the transformation Harry Kane has undergone since working with Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea : Filipe Luis
It’s been a tough campaign for Filipe Luis at Chelsea, where Cesar Azpilicueta has kept a tight grip on the left-back berth.
The Brazilian isn’t likely to be content with a continued spell on the sidelines and Jose Mourinho may well be open to offloading this expensive flop.
With Danny Rose linked with a big-money move away from White Hart Lane, Luis would represent an upgrade.
Spurs may also enquire about on-loan forwards Mohamed Salah and Victor Moses.
Crystal Palace: Yannick Bolasie
Questions remain about his end product, but few can argue that Yannick Bolasie is a supremely talented player who can be a genuine impact player in the Premier League.
He would suit Spurs’ style, and provide an explosive, versatile option in wide areas, but Liverpool will provide stiff competition for his signature.
Everton: Luke Garbutt
With Danny Rose linked with a move to either Manchester City or Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur might need some cover for Ben Davies at left-back.
Everton youngster Luke Garbutt may not be the finished article, but he is available on a free transfer and might be able cover for the Welshman.
Pochettino may be able to help the player develop, as he did with Luke Shaw, while Garbutt himself could do a lot worse than being the Argentine coach’s latest pet project.
Hull City: Andrew Robertson
The trend, recently, has been for players to leave White Hart Lane in order to seek their fortunes at the KC Stadium in recent times, however, could one player be set to buck the trend?
Andrew Robertson remains a raw talent, but at 21, he could be another could option to fill the potential void at left-back and could provide competition for Davies.
Leicester City: Jeffrey Schlupp
While other players, men such as Esteban Cambiasso and Jamie Vardy, have taken the plaudits for Leicester’s amazing survival effort, Ghana left-back Jeffrey Schlupp deserves as much credit as anyone.
In his first season of Premier League action, the 22-year-old has demonstrated his class and his versatility. Equally adept operating as a left-back or a left-midfielder, the Black Star has shown fine dribbling skills and a constant desire to press forward.
He could be a valuable squad option on the left-hand side and will surely only get better over the coming seasons.
Liverpool: Glen Johnson
Right-back has been a problem position for Tottenham this season. Kyle Walker has struggled with injury, Kyle Naughton has left (although some would argue that he was never a viable solution anyway), while Vlad Chiriches and Eric Dier have been unconvincing when they have stepped into the breach.
Liverpool’s Glen Johnson has been rumoured to be returning to former club West Ham United, but might Spurs be tempted to step in and lure the England international to North London instead of East?
Manchester City: Micah Richards
Another solution to the problem right-back spot comes in the form of Manchester City defender Micah Richards.
Out of contract this summer, and unlikely to be kept on at the Etihad Stadium, Richards will likely be seeking pastures new.
Could Spurs see in Richards a chance to secure a talented player on a free transfer? Indeed, Pochettino may well fancy the challenge of resurrecting the 26-year-old England international’s career.
Manchester United: Tom Cleverley
Tom Cleverley’s form at Aston Villa since Tim Sherwood took over has seen his stock rise within the English game.
Everton, who had the chance to sign him last summer, are believed to be keen on the midfielder, while Villa themselves will be hoping to tie the England international down to a permanent deal having shown faith in him this term.
Newcastle United: Moussa Sissoko
One or two players may well look to jump the sinking ship that is Newcastle United this summer, and there are certainly a few excellent talents that would suit a Champions League-chasing side such as Liverpool or Tottenham.
Daryl Janmaat might be an excellent option at right-back, while Moussa Sissoko would bring an intensity and a dynamism to the heart of the park.
The France international-in tandem with Nabil Bentaleb or Ryan Mason-would make for an exceptionally powerful and technically proficient midfield.
Queens Park Rangers: Charlie Austin
One or two Spurs fans might like to see Sandro back at the club—as long as he can leave his injuries and his visa problems behind him—but the Brazilian was sold for a reason, despite the charm he contributes around the place.
Charlie Austin is one of the few Queens Park Rangers players who will have some admirers after another poor Premier League campaign for the Hoops.
Could he follow in Harry Kane’s footsteps and become an England international and an EPL scoring sensation?
Southampton: Toby Alderweireld
Despite being one of the few players at Southampton that Pochettino hasn’t worked with, the Belgian defender has been heavily linked with a move to White Hart Lane.
Soton have the first option to buy the player, but Atletico Madrid could buy out that option for £1.5 million.
That would then pave the way for Spurs to make their move, according to the Mirror.
Morgan Schneiderlin, of course, remains a long-term transfer target.
Stoke City: Asmir Begovic
Should the David De Gea transfer carousel ultimately end up taking Hugo Lloris to Manchester United, Spurs may well be in need of a new goalkeeper.
Few fans have been impressed by Michel Vorm this season and there aren’t many who would be happy with the Dutchman as the Lilywhites’ number one next term.
Instead, Begovic is a seasoned EPL campaigner and would provide an indomitable presence between the sticks.
An upgrade on Lloris? No. But an upgrade on Vorm? One suspects so.
Sunderland: Patrick van Aanholt
Hmm. Admittedly, there aren’t too many Sunderland players who have excelled this season, and it’s hard to imagine Mauricio Pochettino heading to the Stadium of Light to do his summer shopping when the season comes to an end.
There’s probably more chance of a ‘Tony Adams forever’ banner being unveiled at White Hart Lane than there is of the likes of Santiago Vergini, Lee Cattermole and Wes Brown coming to North London next season.
However, one player who may be of interest is 24-year-old left-back Patrick van Aanholt, who has enjoyed a good season and could provide competition for places should Rose leave the club.
Swansea City: Ashley Williams
One Swansea player who catches the eye is Gylfi Sigurdsson, although he is another player who only recently left White Hart Lane…perhaps too soon.
Liverpool are regularly linked with club captain Ashley Williams, but might Spurs not be wise to take a look at the centre-back?
The 30-year-old has long been keen to test himself at a major club and, currently in his prime, might be a good partner for Jan Vertonghen for a season or two.
West Bromwich Albion: Saido Berahino
Berahino may bring some baggage, and he is yet to truly show consistency in the Premier League, but his potential cannot be disputed.
It’s been a while since Spurs employed a transfer policy which focused on bringing the best young English players to White Hart Lane, but Berahino is the kind of player who would have been top of Spurs’ shopping list a decade ago.
If Pochettino can round off his rough edges—as he did with Jay Rodriguez at Southampton—then Berahino could be a major asset for Tottenham and a superb foil for Harry Kane.
West Ham United: Alex Song
Admittedly, he’s had his troubles in recent seasons, and, of course, he’s a former Arsenal star, but Alex Song ought to be considered by the Spurs hierarchy.
He is unlikely to be kept on by Barcelona beyond the summer, but his displays at West Ham—at least at the beginning of the season—indicate that he might be too good for Upton Park.
He could add resiliency and a touch of class to the base of the Spurs midfield and may well be the catalyst for a big season for the Lilywhites.