In 2016, Spurs fell 11 points short of Premier League glory (although it felt much closer). A year later the gap was seven points to champions Chelsea.
Since then though the distance to the table-toppers has been 23, 27 and 41 when the current season was halted by Coronavirus.
Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Mousa Dembele and Christian Eriksen all played key roles in our two nearly title bids. And all four have since departed without being replaced, albeit Rose is technically still on the books.
And the fear is that there could be more key men heading for the exit door, with Harry Kane telling Sky Sports last week: “If I don’t feel like we’re progressing as a team or going in the right direction, I’m not someone to stay there just for the sake of it.”
But what do Spurs need to satisfy Kane and prove that there are capable of pushing for major honours?
Up to five new players, according to former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker.
Lineker defended Kane’s comments in a recent interview with talkSPORT and stressed the need for Spurs to match his level of ambition if they want to keep him.
“It would be unthinkable for a player of Harry Kane’s stature if he didn’t win anything in his entire career,” said Lineker.
“You can’t criticise him too much for having that view; he’s been at the club for a long time and he’s been brilliant.
“And he might well stay there, they might possibly develop, but you’d say they’re four or five players short of certainly challenging for the title.”