Is Harry Kane dropping into the centre circle really Conte’s creative fulcrum strategy? – opinion

Looking at the season ahead, when Tottenham has been so busy in the market, it feels a tad churlish to appear to look for faults.

It is remarkable that Daniel Levy has been encouraged to get the bulk of his business completed so early on. Only one new signing missed the preseason jaunt to Korea.

However, if we’re to look at who we’ve bought and who remains at Hotspur Way from the existing squad, then the glaring conclusion is that Spurs are a bit thin in the attacking middle of the park. Winks, Hojbjerg, and Skipp are all defensive leaning, holding types.

If wing backs are where Conte’s mind is at, then this also raises serious concerns. Emerson Royal’s crossing accuracy in the Premier League last season was 30.5%. Sergio Reguilon’s accuracy in the same discipline was 32.9% (Wyscout)

Bentancur and Bissouma are arguably more penetrative characters, but truth be told, neither have anything in their numbers to make a case for them lifting the burden. Last season, Bissouma produced one assist.

The one fragment of hope might be Bentancur, whose career assist rate is appalling, but he made 4 last season in a Spurs shirt.

What niggles me, is that we have this supposed financial behemoth of a football club, yet there are so many mend-and-make-do scenarios at play for comfort.