The Premier League transfer window officially opened on Friday and Tottenham Hotspur are in the rare position of having already made two signings with plenty more to come.
Spurs go into this transfer window in a position of strength, having finished fourth in the Premier League with Champions League football to offer next season. On top of that they have one of the world's best coaches in Antonio Conte in charge once again and if that was not enough, the club's owners have overseen a £150million cash boot to the coffers with the majority of it set to go on transfers, on top of any funds that are recouped through sales.
Tottenham's managing director of football Fabio Paratici and Conte met in Turin at the end of last month to discuss their transfer targets and which players could leave the club this summer if suitable offers arrived. Spurs' recruitment efforts are also set to be boosted by the arrival of Rangers chief scout Andy Scoulding later this summer, with his arrival filling some of the gap in the club's structure left by technical performance director Steve Hitchen, who is currently seeing out his gardening leave after his resignation earlier this year.
Let's take a look at each area of Conte's squad and what might happen in every department during this transfer window.
READ MORE: Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Bale, Ronaldo and more help Tottenham kit man for special cause
Goalkeepers
The number one spot remains stable with Hugo Lloris signing that new deal until the summer of 2024 so Spurs will not need to spend big in this department during the window. There have been changes below him in the pecking order though as the club decided against paying the €15million agreed to make Pierluigi Gollini's loan move from Atalanta a permanent one.
Lloris' new deal and consistency meant the Italian was unlikely to challenge him for his spot and the decision was made to instead save money in this area and go for a free homegrown player to help with such numbers. Spurs held talks with West Brom stopper Sam Johnstone before deciding on another England international and free agent in 34-year-old Fraser Forster. The Southampton goalkeeper has plenty of European experience and his character was adjudged to be a good one to bring into the dressing room and a safe pair of hands to provide back-up to Lloris.
Then there is academy product and England U21 international Brandon Austin fresh from his new contract, and there is a recall clause in Alfie Whiteman's loan at Swedish side Degerfors, where he will return from in November. Spurs will continue to monitor any bargains in the transfer market in this position in case a long-term heir to Lloris arises but otherwise this is now a settled department within the squad.
Wing-backs
On the right-hand side, Spurs hold a strong interest in 21-year-old Djed Spence, who shone on loan at Nottingham Forest from Middlesbrough this season, helping Steve Cooper's men achieve promotion to the Premier League.
football.london understands that there is expected to be developments in the next 72 hours in the race to sign Spence with a line of suitors ready to make their move as his international break with the England U21s comes to an end on Monday night. Paratici has watched Spence play in person this season and Tottenham have identified the London-born wing-back as a potential homegrown addition.
Spurs are among the frontrunners for Djed's signature, with Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Newcastle, Brentford and Forest all interested in the young wide man. While there is an emotional connection to Forest after helping them gain promotion, Spence is understood to be attracted by the opportunity to play Champions League football, something that Tottenham and Dortmund can offer next season. football.london understands though that Spence is not keen on moving to a big club only to be loaned out elsewhere and instead wants to fight for a regular spot in the side he does move to.
If Spurs do win the race to sign him then that will result in one of the team's other right wing-backs departing. Six months ago the expectation would have been that Matt Doherty would leave the club and another right wing-back would be brought in to compete with Emerson Royal.
However, before his season-ending knee injury, Doherty improved back in his natural position and it was Emerson who, despite defending well, struggled to adjust to the attacking requirements of being a wing-back rather than a right-back. The Brazilian is not understood to be keen to move on from Spurs after just 12 months but there is interest from La Liga sides in taking him back to Spain and he will have retained much of his value.
If Spence decides to go elsewhere, there are plenty of right wing-backs out there that fit the Tottenham profile, such as Torino's 21-year-old Wilfried Singo, while Conte might well be keeping an eye on his former Inter defender Achraf Hakimi's situation at PSG, although he would be a costly addition if he became available with plenty of competition for his signature from Europe's top clubs. Reports from France in recent days have suggested that the 23-year-old is happy to remain at PSG next season.
On the left, Spurs are currently overstocked with options. The arrival of the experienced Ivan Perisic brings a big Champions League-winning addition in the role and Conte has high hopes for 21-year-old Ryan Sessegnon, who seemed to be first choice ahead of Sergio Reguilon at points in the second half of last season. Ben Davies can also play as a left wing-back when required as extra cover.
Tottenham are understood to have to start paying the £28million this summer to Real Madrid for Reguilon's 2020 summer signing, with the Spanish club holding a buy back clause to buy him back for around £43million. That's not expected to happen, certainly for that sum, but there is expected to be interest in the Spain international, despite him being happy at Spurs.
Centre-backs
Tottenham pushed plans to sign a new left-sided centre-back from January until this summer and that has become a priority arrival before pre-season begins.
The top two names on Spurs' centre-back wishlist are also the toughest to sign in Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni and RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol. Bastoni's agent Tullio Tinti stated this week that the 23-year-old defender will not be leaving Inter this summer after Tinti held talks with the club's hierarchy.
Bastoni is not keen to leave the Milan club either. Spurs will continue to monitor the situation in case Inter's financial needs change the scenario but that door looks to be closed at this moment, while 20-year-old Gvardiol is valued at around €80million and is also reportedly keen to remain with his club. He also has Manchester City and Chelsea keeping an eye on his availability if he or Leipzig decide on parting company.
The next name on Spurs' list of left-sided centre-backs is Villarreal's Pau Torres. The Spaniard turned down a move to Tottenham last summer, but the north London club are a different proposition this year with Conte at the helm and Champions League football to offer. Villarreal are also keen to sign Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso which could help any discussions over the fee. Spurs' main opposition is set to be Manchester United who have also been tracking the 25-year-old for some time.
Among the others on Tottenham's list of potential centre-back signings this summer - with Conte wanting two new arrivals for the back three options - are England international and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, Torino's Gleison Bremer and Barcelona's Clement Lenglet, who turned down a loan move to Spurs last summer.
There is also 19-year-old Ukraine international centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi. football.london understands that Spurs have been closely watching the highly-rated Dynamo Kyiv teenager and are weighing up a summer move for him. The right-footer can play on either side of the defence but does have a long-term deal with his side after signing a five-year deal last October.
That came of course before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which, in a football sense, resulted in the termination of the Ukrainian Premier League following its suspension in February as the sport understandably took a back seat to what was going on. What will happen next season for Ukrainian clubs remains unclear.
Elsewhere at Spurs, Wales international Joe Rodon is expected to leave this summer in search of regular football and Tottenham must decide whether his move is a loan or a permanent exit. Cristian Romero's loan deal from Atalanta will be made a permanent one with Eric Dier and Ben Davies both Conte favourites. Both players could be in line for new contracts in the months ahead as they approach the final two years on their deals after impressing this season.
Davinson Sanchez also enjoyed a more consistent season and has only two years remaining on his deal. His future will be dictated by the size of any bids that arrive for him in the months ahead and Japhet Tanganga is set to be back from his knee injury for pre-season training and a decision over his next step is expected to be taken this summer after the tour to Korea.
With a back three and plenty of matches to be played this season in all competitions, Conte needs a large group of centre-backs with two players in each position.
Central midfield
Again this is another area that could be impacted by a departure. football.london understands that Oliver Skipp will be ready to hit the ground running for the first day of pre-season adding to the numbers of Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Winks. However, Winks appears to be fourth choice when everyone is fit and is expected to move on this summer in search of regular minutes.
That would open up the spot for a new central midfielder with Spurs expected to look for a forward-thinking one to complement Conte's current options.
Paratici is a big fan of 23-year-old USA international Weston McKennie, who he took to Juventus. football.london revealed back in January that Spurs' managing director of football had held talks with the players' representatives about a potential move in that window but it was deemed too difficult with the Italian club unwilling to part company with him at that point. The American is believed to have been above Bentancur on Spurs' target list for new recruits that month.
Paratici is expected to make another approach for the versatile Texan, who was a regular starter for Juventus until a metatarsal injury all but ended his campaign. He can play either as a box to box midfielder, a defensive one or on the right or left of midfield and reports in Italy have suggested the Serie A side could make him available, particularly if Paul Pogba returns.
Spurs have also been looking at potential homegrown candidates to replace Winks such as Southampton's James Ward-Prowse and Leeds star Kalvin Phillips. football.london understands that Tottenham had all but agreed a move for Ward-Prowse three years ago but did not pull the trigger and now he is worth more than four times as much.
Tottenham have also been looking elsewhere in the Premier League with Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma a player the club have long been tracking, while further afield Spurs retain an interest in 24-year-old Lille midfielder and Portugal international Renato Sanches, but he looks set for a move to AC Milan.
Tottenham have also held discussions internally about the prospect of bringing Christian Eriksen back to north London, with Brentford keen to keep him as well as other suitors eyeing up the 30-year-old Serie A winner. Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans has also been a player Spurs have monitored for years and they will be watching his situation this summer with Arsenal also keen on bringing him to the capital.
When it comes to the outgoings in this department the returning Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso are expected to be moved on. Lo Celso's stock is high after a good loan spell at Villarreal, helping them reach the Champions League semi-finals, while Spurs will see what offers arrive for club record signing Ndombele.
There is also Pape Matar Sarr, who was signed last summer before heading back on a season-long loan back to Metz. Conte will take a look at the 19-year-old Senegal international this summer and decide whether he is ready to be thrown into a Premier League midfield yet.
Attacking midfield
Tottenham have a number of options here in Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn, while Perisic can also be used on either flank.
Bergwijn is set to move on this summer, having now publicly stated that he wants to leave the club to play regular football next season ahead of the World Cup. Ajax have been long-time admirers, having tried to sign him in January and will need to get somewhere close to the £27million Spurs paid PSV Eindhoven for the Dutchman back in 2020.
Bryan Gil has completed his loan spell at Valencia and the talented Spanish winger could be set for another loan this summer with Conte unconvinced by his ability to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League.
football.london understands that Spurs have been tracking Lyon's Brazil international Lucas Paqueta, a player Newcastle tried to sign earlier this year. The versatile 24-year-old can play in an attacking midfield role, centrally or on the right and can also play up front when required. He netted 11 goals and laid on seven assists in a Lyon side that struggled at times last season.
Spurs have also looked into the possibility of signing Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin and Wolves' winger Adama Traore will remain on the radar as his contract runs down, despite an ultimately unsuccessful loan at Barcelona. Both players are admired by Paratici, who also likes Everton man Richarlison.
When it comes to homegrown options, Tottenham have long held an interest in Leicester star James Maddison, having considered signing him before his move to the Foxes and he is now in the last two years of his contract. Spurs also held talks with Jesse Lingard's representatives in January about a potential summer move as a free agent. There will be plenty of competition though for the 29-year-old, with some suggestions that he is keen on a move abroad or on a move to West Ham, but Tottenham are not in the position to offer him regular starts next season.
In keeping with the homegrown theme, Tottenham also watched 21-year-old Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson last season as he scored 19 goals and laid on nine assists for the Championship outfit and the Wales international was also playing up front at times as they earned promotion. That promotion could ensure that the young attacker remains in Nottingham for a little while longer despite plenty of interest in acquiring his services.
Young attacking midfielder Alfie Devine is expected to head out on loan this summer in order for the talented 17-year-old to continue his development.
Paratici will cast his net wide in his search for more attacking quality for the midfield, particularly with his penchant for loans with options to buy. In the mean time, Spurs will take the second year loan option on Kulusevski before making his move a permanent one next summer.
Striker
Harry Kane is set to remain at Spurs next season, happy with life under Conte and being back in the Champions League and if the club continues to show ambition in this transfer window, then he is understood to be open to signing a new contract with Tottenham.
Spurs need to sign another striker though with Kane playing far more minutes than any other player this season in the first team and Conte cannot afford for him to get injured or jaded in a big campaign next time around. The key for Tottenham is whether they sign another natural number nine or whether they bring in someone who can also play out wide, in order to guarantee them more opportunities to play.
Spurs have long held an interest in Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but acknowledge that the 25-year-old, who would come with a hefty fee, would be unlikely to move to a club where he is not a guaranteed starter.
Gabriel Jesus, who can also play out wide, is another forward who Tottenham admire and is expected to leave Manchester City this summer as his contract reaches its final year. Spurs' north London rivals Arsenal are believed to be the favourites to sign Jesus as they can offer him a constant starting role and the Gunners hold a long-standing interest in Calvert-Lewin, who also has admirers at Newcastle.
football.london understands another striker on Spurs' radar is 23-year-old Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, who has netted 18 goals in 31 matches for Napoli this season. Tottenham considered the Nigerian back when he was in Ligue 1 in Lille and he would now come with a big fee after impressing in Italy.
A couple of talented 22-year-olds have also been catching Spurs' eye, as well as most clubs across Europe. Real Sociedad's Swedish striker Alexander Isak and Uruguay international Darwin Nunez, who has netted 34 goals in 41 matches for Benfica this campaign, are both players of interest, although Liverpool appear set to pay big money for the youngster.
Bayer Leverkusen's 26-year-old Czech Republic striker Patrick Schick was also watched by Spurs this season as he has plundered 24 goals in 31 matches, but he signed a new long-term contract with the German club last month.
Both Conte and Paratici are fans of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez and Spurs attempted to sign the 24-year-old last summer. However, since then the Argentine has penned a new long-term deal and is expected to be extremely difficult to prise away from the Serie A side this year.
Spurs swerved free agents Paulo Dybala and Andrea Belotti, with Paratici understood to not believe either of the two experienced strikers fitted Conte's requirements for the coming campaign.
Tottenham also have their own young striker talent in 18-year-old Dane Scarlett, who Conte - along with many inside the club - has very high hopes for, the Italian saying publicly that the England U19 forward has a "brilliant future" ahead of him. The teenager is expected to be sent out on loan next season to get him the regular football to develop after a campaign without many minutes.
There is also Troy Parrott and Kion Etete - both 20 - who have enjoyed impressive loan spells this season with big leaps in development shown. All three young forwards will likely get a chance in pre-season to show Conte what stage they are at in their development before a decision is made on their next move.
