Guglielmo Vicario’s imminent move to Tottenham Hotspur means one of the club’s transfer priorities for this summer will be completed very soon – but it is far from the only one.
A couple of centre-backs and a creative midfielder are still on the wish list, and Spurs may also move for a wide forward (though a solution could be to sign an attacker versatile enough to play centrally or in wide areas).
As for outgoings, the message from new head coach Ange Postecoglou is that every player will have a clean slate when they report for pre-season next month. Although, before starting work officially on July 1 (a week today) the Australian is getting himself up to speed with the strengths and weaknesses of the squad he’s inheriting.
So, what do we know about how the remaining 10 weeks of Spurs’ summer 2023 window might play out?
Who is leading the search for players?
When it comes to the mechanics of this transfer window, Spurs are still without a director of football. But the recruitment team have been working as normally as possible without one over the past few months, identifying targets and laying the groundwork to bring them in.
Chief scout Leonardo Gabbanini has been the key man here, now working with Ange Postecoglou to agree on new players within the available budget. And with performance director Gretar Steinsson set to leave the club, Gabbanini will have even greater prominence.
But as important as the recruitment team is, the idea is that the head coach has the final say on transfers — as was the case under predecessor Antonio Conte, even though he sometimes liked to give a different impression. Postecoglou will not have players foisted upon him.
As of July 1, the operation will also be boosted by Scott Munn officially starting work as chief football officer. The whole footballing side of the business, including the director of football whenever that appointment happens, will report to Munn.
Incomings
But enough with how it will work, you want to know which players Spurs are trying to sign, don’t you?
Well, let’s start with centre-backs.
Tottenham have lacked a commanding left-sided centre-back for years now, despite the best efforts of Ben Davies and loanee Clement Lenglet, and that is a priority for this summer. In an ideal world, assuming they can shift one or two of their current players at the position as well, the club want to bring in two centre-backs — one as a first choice and one as more of a back-up. The latter could be Lenglet himself, who is well thought of at the club for his attitude and commitment. He wouldn’t command a big transfer fee, but his high wages at Barcelona are the main obstacle.
As for more of a first-choice option, Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba is a key target. Spurs have liked Tapsoba, a 24-year-old from Burkina Faso, for some time and, though right-footed, he is comfortable playing as a left-sided centre-back. The expectation is that talks between Spurs and Leverkusen will take place in the coming days.
Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo is another option, especially as he wants to leave and only has a year left on his contract.
Tosin Adarabioyo (Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Then there’s Marc Guehi, another long-term target of Tottenham’s, but Crystal Palace’s £50million asking price for a player who is beginning to establish himself in the England setup is an issue.
Moving up the pitch, James Maddison, who Spurs have admired since he was a youngster at Coventry City over seven years ago, is the main target for the creative midfield role — another position they have been lacking at for a long time. Negotiations with Leicester City are ongoing, but with the newly-relegated Championship club wanting £60million for a player who is going to be out of contract next summer, an agreement is not yet close.
Tottenham’s cause could be helped by the fact Newcastle United, their main rivals for Maddison’s signature, are currently focusing elsewhere. They are close to a deal for AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali and, while they would love to sign Maddison if the price was right, they are not prioritising a player in his position.
Sticking with Leicester players, winger Harvey Barnes is another player on Tottenham’s list. Again though, Leicester have made it clear, after the possibility of a double move for Maddison and Barnes was suggested, that they are looking for a much higher fee.
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One alternative to Barnes is West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen, who is on the club’s list of homegrown targets. There is, though, an acceptance that West Ham are unlikely to sell — especially given they are expected to be letting captain Declan Rice go this summer. Bowen is another who has been on Spurs’ radar for several years.
New Dutch champions Feyenoord’s captain Orkun Kokcu was another midfielder they were after, but he is heading to Benfica of Portugal instead. Arnaut Danjuma, meanwhile, has returned to Villarreal after his half-season on loan and won’t be joining Tottenham permanently.
Outgoings
As well as incomings, Spurs have a massive job on their hands trying to thin out the squad with some outgoings.
They have 28 senior players currently (29 once Vicario joins), and with no Europe this season will probably want a group of 20 or fewer. With a handful of players to come in as new signings, that’s more than 10 they’ll need to get rid of.
Those that are expected to go, either on loans or permanent deals, include Hugo Lloris, Japhet Tanganga, Davinson Sanchez, Joe Rodon, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks. Ivan Perisic could well also move on after a mixed first season, while it’s also anticipated that young midfielder Alfie Devine will go out on loan.
It would be a surprise if Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele stay after two loan spells away each over the past 18 months but they will have a chance to impress Postecoglou. Bryan Gil falls into a slightly different category, as his loans over the same period were more about aiding his development.
Eric Dier’s contract expires next summer and it’s more likely he leaves then rather than in this window, assuming he doesn’t sign a new one. There have been talks on that front but they are not at an advanced stage.
And, of course, the one possible departure that could end up dominating Spurs’ summer is that of Harry Kane.
The England captain turns 30 on July 28 and has a year left on his contract. Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Manchester United are among the interested clubs, but none have yet tested Tottenham’s resolve with a bid. And even with his contract expiring next summer, it would take a huge offer to prise Kane out of the blue and white corner of north London.
Son Heung-min meanwhile made it clear this week he has no intention of leaving this summer — despite interest from new Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad.
There are still more than two months to go until the September 1 deadline, but things are at least taking shape for Spurs.
It’s clear where their priorities are, and now comes the hard/fun/excruciating (delete as appropriate) bit: getting the deals they want to do over the line.
