Tottenham look to be close to making their first signing of the summer, but is it one that will push the club forward?
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino waves to the crowd after the International Champions Cup 2017 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur remain the sole Premier League club yet to sign a player this summer, though that could be about to change.
According to The Sun, Mauricio Pochettino is set to go back to former club Southampton to add Paulo Gazzaniga to the team’s goalkeeping ranks for £2 million. However, it is unlikely to be the sort of deal to inspire supporters who may still be smarting from the departure of long-serving fullback Kyle Walker.
Tottenham’s transfer inactivity comes in contrast to Mauricio Pochettino’s admission in the Standard that the club need to add to increase pressure on the existing first team, and many fans would agree that though the first team is strong, it is the squad that needs to be strengthened.
What is vital for the North London side is that they don’t settle for uninspiring incomings, completed in desperation in the latter days of the window, just as they appeared to be on the cusp of establishing themselves as a Premier League powerhouse.
Something similar happened at Spurs during the 2011-12 season. Coming the season after their first ever Champions League campaign, Harry Redknapp’s side made limited signings in the summer, though Brad Friedel, Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor all enjoyed impressive debut seasons at White Hart Lane. It left Tottenham in third place for much of the midseason, some way ahead of Arsenal at the start of 2012 and seemingly nailed on for another Champions League spot and their best ever Premier League finish.
Louis Saha (C) of Spurs with teammates Ryan Nelsen (L) and Gareth Bale (R)
However, bizarre January recruitment failed to bring in the necessary personnel, as Redknapp could only recruit veterans Louis Saha and Ryan Nelson late in the window despite being linked with high profile targets to push for a title challenge.
Spurs won just five of their final 15 Premier League games after the window closed, allowing Arsenal to retake the final automatic Champions League spot, and seeing Tottenham cruelly denied by Chelsea’s winning of the trophy in Munich.
It set Spurs back after they had been threatening the established top four, with star men Luka Modric and Gareth Bale departing for Real Madrid by the summer of 2013.
This certainly looks like a stronger, more committed Tottenham group, led by the outstanding Pochettino, but they can ill afford another underwhelming transfer window after their runners up spot last season, and with their rivals recruiting so emphatically.
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