The Tottenham Hotspur defence now has plenty of solid options.
LB: Rose
Mauricio Pochettino now has several different alternatives in a new-look Tottenham defence after a summer of recruitment but his left-back is likely to remain the same.
Danny Rose came on leaps and bounds last term – despite having plenty still to learn – and won’t be pushed too far by Ben Davies should things remain the same.
CB: Vertonghen
Jan Vertonghen actually had a very poor campaign last season by his own normal standards. But Pochettino remains a big fan and the theory is the Belgian will show a higher level when surrounded by a better quality of defenders.
CB: Wimmer
The 22-year-old has made the right noises since joining Spurs and could be a surprise package. Indeed, Kevin Wimmer will likely be given a chance and could well take it at centre-back. The biggest problem may be where Eric Dier comes in – but his versatility should guarantee him a number of games all the same.
RB: Trippier
Kyle Walker endured an awful 2014/15 and DeAndre Yedlin is still young, with Pochettino appearing to be sceptical over using him as a right-back too soon. Dier, meanwhile, will likely be the Tottenham boss’s preferred back-up.
DM: Alderweireld
The main reason Wimmer could be considered at centre-back, Tottenham’s biggest defensive flaw is a lack of support from midfield. That’s what makes the Toby Alderweireld signing so important. The Belgian may well play several games at centre-back but his influence could be even greater from further forward.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
