Summer Signings – A Spurs Fan’s Wishlist

In 48 hours time we will have a much clearer idea of how Spurs will be able to operate in the transfer market this summer. The outcome of Chelsea v Bayern will not only decide if we have Champions League football to offer potential new signings next season, but subsequently if there is the extra television revenue to splash out on both transfer fees and wages. But before we are brought crashing back down to earth by an inexplicable winner from David Luiz in the 93^rd minute, I shall suspend reality for five minutes and share with you my vision for improving our squad this summer.

Steven Fletcher

To my completely untrained eye it seems that this will be the summer Jermain Defoe leaves Spurs for the second time. He’s been making those noises again about lack of playing time and even gave himself a Demolition Man dye-job to get  noticed by other managers. He should have 2 games at the start of the Euro’s to push himself further to the front of the shop window, undoubtedly in some sort of throwback Little ‘n’ Large partnership with Carroll, and ultimately who can blame him? 17 goals this season despite being a benchwarmer for most of it points to the fact that Defoe deserves to be starting regularly, just not for Tottenham Hotspur. He’s improved his all-round game but I’ve never been a huge lover of Defoe and I don’t think he would be a huge loss, especially if Redknapp persisted in throwing him on anytime we need a goal despite us dominating the midfield (see FA cup semi-final against Chelsea).

However, if Defoe is to leave, and hopefully Saha to boot, then it leaves us a little light on attacking options even if we do secure Adebayor. The relegated teams are always a solid choice to look for back-up players at cut-down prices, with their downtrodden stars at least having that fabled ‘premier league experience’ which seems to make bugger all difference. But Fletcher seems like a good shout to me, he scored 12 league goals this season in a team which only managed a total of 40 and with very little in the way of service, in fact I would go as far to say that he could match Defoe in terms of goals if he took a similar role within our team. Unlike Defoe however I would think Fletcher would be happy to wait for his opportunity from the bench at Spurs, now undeniably a ‘big club’. His wage demands wouldn’t cause Levy’s ulcer to flare up and seeing as Craig Levein has ostracised him from the national side for the foreseeable future, Fletcher doesn’t even have to worry about being overlooked for Scotland due to not starting enough games. So long Jermain, welcome aboard Steven.

Junior Hoilett

You don’t have to be a tactical expert like me to notice that as soon as Aaron Lennon got injured, and Redknapp started to force players into unnatural positions, Spurs’ form dipped dramatically. Van der Vaart and Modric are simply not as effective when played on the wings and also neither provide adequate cover for the full-backs when we are defending, an area which Lennon has improved on dramatically in recent seasons. This problem would be solved if we had a back-up winger who was talented and trusted. There was an attempt to sign Krasic in January which apparently fell through due to the player, but I think we need to press on with bringing in younger talent and there were very few youngsters who caught the eye as much as Hoilett this season. Able to play on either wing, Hoilett would even allow Bale to drop back if the worst was to happen and BAE picked up an injury. While I noticed a tendency to go missing in a few of Blackburn’s matches, he possesses great pace, power, the ability to do this and potentially available on a free in a month. Must be worth a punt.

Jan Vertonghen

Younes Kaboul has been much maligned during his two spells at Spurs, mainly by me. But I have enjoyed eating my humble pie this season as Kaboul has grown into an absolute beast of a centre-back, often unbeatable in the air. It is now clear that we are looking for a partner for Younes. Step forward Jan Vertonghen. The Dutch Footballer of the Year winner is as calm and assured as they come. Able to cover multiple positions on the pitch and just as likely to be found joining in with attacks as he is stopping the opposition, Vertonghen really is the epitome of the modern defender. Not only that but as Ajax captain at just 25 it is clear that he is a leader, which is what we desperately need in defence. Both Kaboul and Dawson look so much more comfortable when playing next to Ledley King and that is due to his ability to organise and lead a back four. Ledley might have another season in him but it’s time for new blood and with Vertonghen added to Kaboul, Walker and BAE, Spurs might finally have a back four worth shouting about.

Steven Caulker

“Hey you bloody idiot” I hear your cry “Caulker IS our player!”

Yes I know that, I...

“He was just on loan at Swansea you muppet!”

Bit harsh, if you would just let me expl...

“I bet your mother doesn’t love you, you cretin!”

Enough now.

My point, if you will allow me to make it, is this: Getting Steven Caulker back will be just like signing a new player, accepted this is an awful cliché, but only if he is utilised correctly. Nobody can deny how impressive Caulker has been in a Swansea backline which has looked very sturdy during its first Premier League outing. So impressive in fact that I would argue Caulker should be our 3^rd choice centre-back if we sign Vertonghen and if not then he should start the season partnering Kaboul. Redknapp has been busy mumbling into his eight chins about how Caulker might need more time out on loan if he’s not going to push for first team at the Lane. But he should be pushing for first team; he must be trusted as he has spent all this season proving his ability to handle the Premier League. Truth be told we have no idea how Dawson will be after his long lay-off and King should be used far more sparingly next season. It’s no surprise that Ledley had some of his extremely rare bad games late on this season; you simply cannot expect a player not to train and still play more than two consecutive matches.  In the words of Michael Hughes (@InOurHO) King should be rolled out ‘like a classic car on the odd Sunday’. Gallas can go but we still need five centre-backs and Caulker should be above King and Dawson in the pecking order.

In a similar vein I am looking forward to the return of Tom Huddlestone next season, hugely underrated in my opinion. Too many times this season Spurs have played with one or two destructive holding midfielders against teams who offered no threat going forward and were happy to sit back and soak up pressure. Having Huddlestone in there instead would still provide limited defensive cover but he also has s superb range of passing and thus the ability to create attacks from deep within our own half. Viva Thuddz.

Anders Lindegaard

There is no doubt that Brad Friedel has proved to be a superb bit of business for Spurs this season. Commanding and composed, he has seen it all before. But despite his impressive run of consecutive games the time will come soon enough when he can no longer perform at the top level and currently we have nobody ready to take his place. Over at Old Trafford, the llama-faced donut thief that is David De Gea has unfortunately settled in quite nicely and looks like he will make the number one jersey his for the foreseeable future. Which begs the question, Is Anders Lindegaard happy to play second fiddle during his peak years and rely on injuries or dramatic loss in form to get his chance again at Old Trafford? I would think not, earlier in his career Lindegaard left his hometown club due to a lack of first-team opportunities and even if he wasn’t promised to start when he joined Man Utd, I think he will become easily frustrated at sitting on the bench every week.  As Utd only paid around £3.5 million for him I don’t think it would take too much to bring him to WHL. Get him in this summer for a season of learning from Friedel and Cudicini and then we have our first-choice ‘keeper nailed on for the next 5 years.

LLorente in – Redknapp out

This dear reader is the dream. Fantasy land, if you will. I have tried to be realistic with my previous targets but you can’t blame a guy for sticking his head in the clouds once in a while.

LLorente is everything a modern striker should be. Good in the air and great on the ground. He is even nicknamed The Lion King, how cool is that? In short he is everything Peter Crouch is not. If we were to sign him I would throw my cynicism in the bin for at least two weeks and really start to believe that this club could challenge for the title.

Harry Redknapp on the other hand is everything a modern manager should not be. While I could spend a whole blog pointing out his faults, it has been done by better writers than me already and I don’t want to stick the boot in too heavily on a man who has more than exceeded the expectations I had when he took over this club. But the truth is that we need a manager with a bit more tactical nous and a habit of winning things. Is that Mourinho fella still larking about in Madrid?

Tom Malone (@tbear995)

Podcaster for Live From Your Living Room, available on iTunes and soon to return from hiatus.