Little Spending but plenty of sense…

Little spending, plenty of sense — how Tottenham have triumphed amid this summer’s transfer madness
Everton, for example, are felt to be having a good summer, but would any of their new players get in Spurs’ side? If Mauricio Pochettino believes this current squad can kick on again, he should be trusted.

It is barely three weeks’ old, but judgements are already being made on who has had a good transfer window.

So here goes.

Tottenham have had a cracking one, so far.  They have yet to recruit a single new player, but so what?

In the madhouse of Premier League spending, they currently represent what counts for a muted voice of sanity.  It seems, in this day and age, that it doesn’t matter who you spend money on, just as long as you are spending. Just as long as you are seen to be spending.

Everton is a club widely acclaimed to have had a good time of it in the market.

That may well turn out to be the case.

They have certainly registered a fair number of new faces, to such an extent they are being talked about as a club that will realistically compete with Spurs for a top-four place.

The bullishness of Everton supporters, even though they have lost their most important player, is understandable. They now have an owner with the resources and the commitment to invest in personnel.

Tripps

It is an exciting time to be an Evertonian.

But would any one of Ronald Koeman’s captures get into the Tottenham side?

Michael Keane, with a recent relegation on his CV, ahead of Jan Vertonghen or Toby Alderweireld? Jordan Pickford, with an even more recent relegation on his CV, ahead of Hugo Lloris? Davy Klaassen, six years at Ajax without getting a big move, ahead of former Ajax team-mate Christian Eriksen?

In Romelu Lukaku, Everton have lost the player who makes the greatest difference. He would not get into Spurs’ team ahead of Harry Kane.

Lukaku is now being paid at least double the amount Kane earns. Yet Kane is as certain to start the new season with Tottenham as Mino Raiola is to make another fifty million quid between now and the end of August.

Likewise, Dele Alli, Danny Rose, Mousa Dembele, Eriksen, Lloris, Vertonghen, Alderweireld et al.

The point is that Tottenham have a very good, young, improving team. Keeping it together is the priority, not spending cash like a sailor on shore.

With, in comparison to the rest of the Big Six, a relatively modest wage structure, this originally shaped up to be a fiercely challenging summer for Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino.

But there are few signs of prize assets being lured away or into discontent.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26:  Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at White Hart Lane on September 26, 2015 in London, United Kingdom.  (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Spurs have sold Kyle Walker for a £50million fee that has become the mascot of the Premier League’s financial insanity… and managed to get a player who they regarded as at least his equal, Kieran Trippier, to sign a new five-year contract.

Now we all know that strengthening from a position of strength is the key to ongoing strength.

There is plenty of time left for Pochettino to do just that.

But towards the end of last summer’s window, Spurs appeared to spend just for the sake of it, and Moussa Sissoko turned out to be a £30m dud.

Pochettino has some good young talent coming through the ranks and, under his management, Spurs have got better in each of his three seasons.

If he believes he already has a squad that can take another step forward, he should be trusted.

With a willing accomplice in Levy, Pochettino is hardly adding to the fun of the transfer fair.

That might change.

But if it doesn’t – and there are no more departures – this will still be a good window for Spurs.

Little spending, plenty of sense.

(Daily Mirror – Andy Dunn)

Share the Post:

Related Posts

Categories