With Daniel Levy signalling Tottenham’s intention to spend this summer regardless of where they finish the season in the final week, some of the biggest names likely to be available this summer have been linked with the north London club.
Even before the north London derby, the Spurs chairman was banging the drum for further investment. Although in truth this will once again have to be balanced by revenue and wage cuts brought about by getting rid of senior players.
But with Champions League qualification as difficult as ever, Levy does at least recognise the need to invest further to improve. "When we reported our June 2021 year-end financial results we set out our vision for the club and underlined that, whilst we had invested significantly in the squad, we needed to improve our recruitment,” Levy said.
“The January transfer window showed how important this can be. We shall continue to support investment in both our first and women’s teams and our academy. Regardless of the results of our last three games of this season, I firmly believe we are well positioned to go forward into next season. The desire and determination to see success on the pitch is felt by everyone at the club."
Dybala needs Champions League football to sign
When Spurs have dropped points, often the key missing ingredient has been creativity in midfield and Paulo Dybala offers that in spades. But at a price.
Although a free transfer, interest from Chelsea and Arsenal could net him the £135,000-a-week pay demands he wanted from Juventus - although that would be a little rich within the Spurs structure. It would be time, then, for Fabio Paratici to earn his money, having emerged from the January window with much credit for his two Juventus signings Dejan Kulusevksi and Rodrigo Bentancur.
Spurs thought they had signed him in 2019 only for the deal to fall down on his image rights and as a reason for Antonio Conte to stay, his capture could prove a strong one for Levy. The maths suggest, though, that it would take Champions League football to be able to buy the package and sell the move to Dybala himself. His agent was spotted in London this week, so securing a top-four place cannot come soon enough for Levy.
Witsel could hold Spurs' summer together
As well as in the wing-back areas, Antonio Conte has identified the spine of the team as the area that he wants to see strengthened most.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s future remains in doubt having been linked with a move to Newcastle and Harry Winks is not seen as robust enough. The availability of Oliver Skipp next season after nearly the whole season out with injury is seen as a boost to the quantity of the players available to Conte next season.
But Axel Witsel, the 33-year-old out of contract at Borussia Dortmund this season, represents quality. Galatasaray, Juventus and Manchester United are already in the hunt but the latest reports from Germany suggest London could be calling louder.
Danjuma building bridges
As leagues begin to wind down all over the continent, players all over Europe are considering ‘what’s next’?
Players use all sorts of back channels to let their availability heard, so why not use a former Sunderland, Leeds and Bolton striker who ended his career playing for the Lambton Jaffas? Michael Bridges has told Give Me Sport that former Bournemouth striker Arnaut Danjuma is happy in Spain but sees the grass greener back in England.
The £64m clause that Villarreal inserted in his contract may be a bit rich for a player who struggled in the Premier League last time, but if it is a starting point for negotiations then Levy may just be interested for that much-sought back-up to Harry Kane.
