Five positions Tottenham still need to strengthen after January transfer window struggles - Opinion
Very little was done to improve the Tottenham squad in January, which means the club has a lot to do in the summer.
With only Conor Gallagher and Souza added to the Spurs roster in the New Year, there are clearly an abundance of issues that will impact the rest of this season.
Thomas Frank is already struggling, but with a huge injury crisis plaguing his squad, the lack of activity from the board in the transfer window has not helped matters at all.
Frank insisted there will be business in the summer. Too little, too late, perhaps, but here are the positions Tottenham need to make sure they strengthen at the end of the season.
What do Tottenham need to fix?
Spurs must replace Guglielmo Vicario
Sometimes he’s brilliant. Sometimes he’s a liability. All throughout January, there was talk of Guglielmo Vicario being replaced, and it does feel like patience is running out with the Italian goalkeeper.
It’s thought Spurs want an elite replacement for Vicario. Who that will be is another matter, but if Tottenham are to truly compete with the top teams again, they need someone they can depend upon between the sticks.
One more full-back is needed
Reports linking Spurs with Andy Robertson were quite surprising at the time, but it does make a lot of sense. Failing to land the Scotsman is not the end of the world, but it’s still an area Spurs need to work on.
Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, and Destiny Udogie are proper first-team quality players. Souza is not quite there, and Tottenham need an experienced full-back who can complete the set for the next year or two while the Brazilian develops.
Tottenham are lacking a playmaker
It was said one of the main priorities for Spurs in January was to find a ball-playing, creative midfielder. That was after the signing of Conor Gallagher, and yet no new midfielder joined.
With James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski injured so often, and Xavi Simons still taking time to settle in at Spurs, it’s clear another playmaker is needed. It’s a position that could transform Tottenham if the right player comes in, so it has to be a priority again in the summer.
Why did Spurs not sign a new winger?
A new midfielder was a desired addition, but a new winger was an absolute necessity. Tottenham were supposed to have six targets for that role, at least, and still no signing was made. The sale of Brennan Johnson and the injury to Mohammed Kudus didn’t help matters, and Spurs look really weak out wide.
Given Mathys Tel also wants to leave and Randal Kolo Muani is unlikely to stick around, it might be the case that Spurs need to sign more than one winger in the summer. Let’s hope that mission is more successful.
Dominic Solanke needs genuine competition at Tottenham
The return of Dominic Solanke has been a breath of fresh air for Tottenham. He’s scored two in the Champions League and bagged a crucial brace against Man City. However, his successful reintegration into the team just underlines how important it is to have someone fighting him for his spot.
Richarlison’s injury record is worrying, and an upgrade is needed. If Spurs could have two top-level strikers consistently battling for a starting place in the team, they’d be a far stronger outfit. All the best teams have that kind of rotation. It’s time for Spurs to step it up.
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