Daniel Levy inferred in a meeting with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust in March that the club was unlikely to spend big in the transfer market when the window reopens, as Sky Sports reports.
Whatever funds that might have been ringfenced for the summer may well be impacted by the loss of income caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, so we are going to have to bargain hunt better than ever to improve the squad.
MORE: The Bookies’ 5 Most Likely Spurs Summer Signings
Looking at players whose contracts are expiring is a good place to start – we’ve all done it on Football Manager. So here are three good options for Spurs from the Premier League who may be available on the cheap.
All contracts expire in June 2021 according to transfermarkt.com.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Most players on expiring contracts are often on the way down, but the Southampton skipper is very much the opposite having enjoyed another good season as the inspirational leader in their unlikely turnaround.
We desperately need a natural defensive midfielder and Sky Sports understands that the 24-year-old Dane is on our radar. Saints would be reluctant to lose their skipper, but won’t want to miss out on the cash either so you’d think that Hojbjerg could be available for around £20m-£25m.
Joshua King
The Sun reported this week that Bournemouth are planning a summer clearout and that King could be one of the players sold to generate funds.
The 28-year-old has been tenuously linked to Spurs for years and while that rumour has never excited me, he is the right fit to provide cover for Harry Kane. We’ve tried unproven imports and grizzled veterans and none of them have worked out. King knows the league, and knows where the net is.
Michail Antonio
We recently saw Antonio in a Spurs shirt after losing a FIFA bet to Ryan Sessegnon and I would not be opposed to that being a full-time deal.
The recently-turned 30-year-old is a couple of years and injuries past his peak, but is still a formidable opponent for defenders and would offer the same sort of versatility that King would. I know we should be aiming higher than Antonio, but, for pennies, we could do worse too.
I always thought Michail Antonio was a good shout, a beast on his day.