Saturday 8 August 2015 10:28, UK
All the transfer news, statistics, pundit views and odds ahead of Tottenham's 2015/16 season.
Position last season: 5th
Sky Bet title odds: 100/1
Ins: Kevin Wimmer (Cologne), Kieran Trippier (Burnley), Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid)
Outs: Jordan Archer (Millwall), Cristian Ceballos, Bongani Khumalo (both released), Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande), Lewis Holtby (Hamburg), Etienne Capoue (Watford), Younes Kaboul (Sunderland), Benjamin Stambouli (Paris Saint Germain), Vlad Chiriches (Napoli), Grant Ward (Rotherham, loan), Alexander McQueen (Carlisle)
Overview
Tottenham will continue their battle to break into the top four in Mauricio Pochettino’s second year at the helm, having finished six points short in 2014/15. But with their rivals spending heavily, bridging that gap is unlikely to get any easier.
It has been a low-key transfer window for Spurs so far, but having conceded more goals than relegated Hull City last season, it is unsurprising that they have prioritised defensive additions. Toby Alderweireld is likely to slot straight into central defence after impressing at Southampton last season, and Kieran Trippier’s performances for Burnley suggest he’ll be an upgrade on Kyle Walker.
Spurs appear to have learned valuable lessons from their ill-fated transfer splurge in 2013, and this summer they have succeeded in offloading the likes of Paulinho and Etienne Capoue as well as keeping hold of prized asset Harry Kane. Spurs will need him to stay fit and pick up where he left off last term if they are to improve on last year’s fifth-placed finish.
Charlie Nicholas' view: "I don’t see them threatening the top four this season. It’s intriguing times for them but maybe for future years rather than this season because of the financial restrictions that the new stadium has enforced. Toby Alderweireld is a strong acquisition but they don’t really score many goals and they need at least two quality signings to compete, I’d say a striker and a creative midfielder."
Charlie Nicholas' one to watch: "Harry Kane repeating the goalscoring form will be absolutely key to them having any chance of being near qualifying for the Champions League."
- Only Burnley (4413.9 KM) covered more distance in their Premier League matches last campaign than the Lilywhites (4336 KM).
- Kane won his team 24 points with his goals last season, more than any other player.
- Kane became the first Tottenham player to score 30+ goals in all comps in a single season since Gary Lineker in 1991-92.
