Former England striker Gary Lineker has lauded Tottenham Hotspur’s recent transfer strategy, highlighting three signings he believes have been exceptional for the club.
In an episode of ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, Lineker praised Tottenham’s recruitment team for their improved approach in the transfer market, crediting manager Ange Postecoglou for positively transforming the club since his arrival.
Lineker singled out three players who he believes have made a significant impact at Spurs: Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, and Cristian Romero.
Van de Ven and Maddison arrived at Tottenham in the summer, while Romero joined from Atalanta in the summer of 2022.
Lineker commended the trio for their contributions to the team’s success this season, highlighting their talent and the role they play in Spurs’ pursuit of a Champions League spot.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, he commented:
“He’s done a brilliant job and it’s hard going to a football club and not just trying to improve results but have an entirely different way of playing than you’d had in previous years.
“I think it’s easy to get the players to buy into playing attractive, attacking, entertaining football, but it’s one thing actually saying that, and it’s another thing doing that on the pitch without results going the other way.
“He’s improved the team massively, I think Tottenham recruitment, and I think it’s worth saying because for years I don’t think it was that great, but in recent times it’s been really exceptional.”
“They’ve brought in a lot of talented players over the last year or two, starting perhaps probably with [Cristian] Romero and then you’ve got [Micky] van de Ven and [James] Maddison obviously.
“Lots of really good players they’ve bought in there and they’ve got a genuine chance of getting a Champions League spot, which I think at the start of the season would have surprised us all.”
All three players mentioned by Lineker have been outstanding for Spurs this season and have become a key part of Postecoglou’s team.
Van de Ven and Romero have formed a solid defensive partnership, showcasing their ability to excel in both defensive solidity and ball-playing skills, crucial attributes in Postecoglou’s system.
They also possess incredible leadership skills, which is another quality observed in almost all the recent signings.
Meanwhile, James Maddison’s creativity is well known. He has been one of the best attacking midfielders in the league for quite a few seasons now.
His impressive tally of 11 goal involvements in 16 Premier League appearances this season underscores his importance to the team’s attacking prowess.
