Daniel Levy and Tottenham need to step things up in the transfer market when it comes to reshaping Ange Postecoglou's Spurs squad ahead of the new season
Ange Postecoglou will be hoping that things start to pick up for Tottenham in the transfer market now that the club's Asia-Pacific summer tour has come to an end. Securing a 5-1 win over Lion City Sailors on Wednesday in their final match in Singapore, Spurs have two friendlies remaining on the schedule before the 2023/24 Premier League season gets underway.
With captain Hugo Lloris one of those staying in north London in order to explore prospective transfer opportunities, Fraser Forster, Ryan Sessegnon, Rodrigo Bentancur, Bryan Gil and Troy Parrott were all absent through injury. That leaves Postecoglou with a total of 36 players at his disposal at present, as Josh Keeley, who was part of the club's summer tour and has trained with the first team on occasions in the past, is really classed as an Under-21 player as he played 19 games in Premier League 2 last campaign.
Asked by football.london during the team's time in Perth about the big numbers at the club and the need to trim the squad down to size, Postecoglou admitted that the things would need to change ahead of the season.
"Will they all be there at the start of the year? Unlikely, very unlikely, but that doesn’t mean I’ll treat them any differently now. That’s just the way I work. We'll see. Obviously, the players themselves will look for opportunities elsewhere if they think they’re not going to get them here. Whenever that comes across my desk I’ll discuss it with the players and make a decision that’s best for all parties."
Loan spells seem the likeliest option for Dane Scarlett and Parrott, with Alfie Devine potentially another youngster who could depart on a temporary deal but Postecoglou may well have other ideas for him now after making an impression in pre-season. It's imperative that Tottenham start prioritising outgoings, with other Premier League clubs also in a similar boat to Spurs at present.
"Well, we have 30 players here which is unsustainable," he stated. "Obviously, the market is still open and things can happen. We are prepared. I’m really happy with the squad we have at the moment. We have improvements to make in terms of what we want to do in games and we still have to do that. Overall really pleased with the team."
Elsewhere in the US, former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is with his Chelsea team in Atlanta, deemed his current Blues numbers as "massive" and admitted that a squad of between 22-24 players would suffice.
"At the moment the dynamic is very good, really good guys and they are sharing the time together. It is difficult because sometimes in every game three, four, five players cannot play and that is difficult because the mood is difficult. It is about creating a squad with good balance and people who have the opportunity to play and can compete for their place.
"That is a big job and challenge for us in the transfer window to build a good relationship and good balance and then okay, if players are not happy because they believe they are not going to play, we are going to find a solution with the club and fix the situation. What we cannot have is a massive squad, players not be involved and then it's going to create a mess in the squad.
"Maybe less is more and more is less, it is not mathematic. That is why I need to make clear we don't need a big squad. We need 22, 23, 24 players with some younger and that's it. I am so sorry because maybe the decision will be tough but we need to build a good and a balanced team who want to compete for things."
Balance is one thing Postecoglou and Tottenham need if they are move forward as a club as a bloated squad is no good for anyone. As Pochettino said in his post-match press conference, perhaps less is more.
Postecoglou will now have his fingers crossed that the team's return from Asia will see Levy and Tottenham really step it up in the transfer market as the opening game away at Brentford is edging ever closer. As vital as defensive incomings are at present for Tottenham, transfer exits are also essential as the club plan for a brighter future.
Goalkeepers
Guglielmo Vicario, Hugo Lloris, Fraser Forster, Alfie Whiteman, Brandon Austin
Defenders
Pedro Porro, Emerson Royal, Djed Spence, Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Davinson Sanchez, Japhet Tanganga, Joe Rodon, Destiny Udogie, Sergio Reguilon, Ryan Sessegnon
Midfielders
Yves Bissouma, Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele, Pape Matar Sarr, Alfie Devine, Harvey White
Forwards
Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min, Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, Bryan Gil, Troy Parrott, Dane Scarlett
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