Tottenham Hotspur have performed admirably this season, but still have a long way to go if they are to challenge for major honours.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Spurs have been on of the league’s most impressive sides since the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2014, and they continue to go from strength-to-strength.
Their overall improvement has been such that it is hard to find a single area where they could improve, let alone five!
But at the highest levels of the game, it is fine margins that separate winning and losing, so here are five particular changes that they could make over the summer if they want to truly reach the big time:
1. A better back-up striker than Vincent Janssen
The big Dutchman has proven that he is quite clearly not good enough to fill the void left behind by Harry Kane when he is out injured.
Although it would be fair to say that the former AZ Alkmaar man has not had enough time to settle in north London, it is hard to imagine him ever hitting the heights of the England international.
And a higher quality reserve striker will surely be needed if Spurs are to challenge on all fronts next term.
2. A better back-up centre-back than Kevin Wimmer
Tottenham’s Kevin Wimmer
Tottenham have looked better and better the more they’ve played with three centre-backs, and if they are to persist with this formation, another top quality defender will be needed as cover for Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier.
Although Kevin Wimmer clearly has potential, he is not even close to being considered as an equal to the aforementioned names.
3. A CM who is not afraid to shoot from outside the box
Mauricio Pochettino has a wealth of talent to choose from in the midfield department, but since Andros Townsend left the club, they have been bereft of a player who likes to shoot from outside of the box.
The addition of a player of this ilk could prove to be vital to Spurs, and would give Pochettino another option, should he need to mix things up.
4. A creative midfielder who can step up when Christian Eriksen has a quiet spell
Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen with Mauricio Pochettino
The Great Dane is one of the Lilywhites’ most creative players, and has established himself as the player who makes Tottenham tick.
When he is off his game, however, there is a noticeable drop in the fluidity of Spurs’ game, and the addition of another play-maker could take them to the next level.
Not only would it bring another level of competition for Eriksen, but it would also offer a different dimension to the way in which they play.
5. A world-class marquee name
Arguably, the one main thing missing from the Tottenham squad is a world-class marquee name, and making that kind of signing could elevate the club in and amongst Europe’s elite.
Names such as Isco have been banded about as potential summer targets, and if they could bring a player of the Spaniard’s calibre to north London during the transfer window, they would have every chance of winning major honours next term.
Everything being said, Spurs are only just 10 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea in the Premier League table, and are by no means out of the title race just yet.
And credit where credit’s due, Tottenham have come on leaps and bounds over the past couple of years.
But the next step will be to bring a league title back to the club for the first time since 1961.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
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