If I’ve written it once, I’ve written it 1000 times; this summer’s transfer window is going to be unusual. With so much to do and so little to spend, Tottenham will need to find creative solutions; compromises must be made.
One of those compromises must be Daniel Levy sacrificing a fundamental element of his business model in relation to the age of new signings. As The Telegraph reports regarding a possible deal for 28-year-old full-back Thomas Meunier, the chairman is reluctant to purchase anybody over the age of 25, so to try to return the average age of the squad to one of the youngest in the Premier League, has quietly become one of the oldest.
In the past seven years, Levy has rarely deterred from his model of signing younger players with resale value. Strikers Roberto Soldado and Fernando Llorente are the only signings over the age of 27 during that period.
MORE: Analysis – Low Spending Might Pay Off For Spurs This Summer
I don’t think Levy can afford to be so picky this time around. There are too many holes in the squad and Jose Mourinho needs players who can come in and perform immediately if we are to compete for the Champions League places next season. With our stadium and Covid-19-imposed financial restrictions, we will be back to shopping at the Clinton N’Jie, Kevin Wimmer, and Vincent Janssen market if we look to address four or five positions with the £50m budget that Levy has earmarked for us, as The Express details.
This is the same market where we found Christian Eriksen and Eric Dier, so the results are mixed. But we aren’t in a position to gamble like that again. We aren’t plucky underdogs any more. We’ve been to the dance now and there are expectations from the fans, players, and manager to get results.
I would rather see the likes of Meunier, Diego Godin, and William come in this summer than a raft of unknowns. I’m not advocating a complete change of policy, just a balance that will give Mourinho a fighting chance of getting immediate results without major financial outlay. Some of these players will be available for little to nothing, offsetting their higher wage demands, and they can be replaced in a couple of years when the market is more stable. Any player signed from that N’Jie and Wimmer market is at risk of needing replacing anyway, because they may not be good enough.
Bringing in a couple of proven, more experienced players also means that there is less downside if the transfer punts we do take don’t bear fruit.
This next window will not allow clubs to be rigid with their transfer philosophies. If Levy isn’t more flexible, then he is asking for trouble.
That was certainly the case in his last job. Strange how completely that has been erased from many memories.
Until last summer he had been allowed a net spend of 27m over 5 seasons — the lowest in the PL, lower even than several championship clubs.
For a truly eye watering waste of money, think of the 400m poch’s replacement spent at Man U.
I knew he would split opinion that’s why I put a question mark beside him,but at £5m he was still a good acquisition. Poch signed 25 players and its poor that we can’t name half a dozen good ones.
Not Dele.
If we had an owner and chairman who actually liked football then maybe you could see some logic in the authors comment.
This is Spurs, this is ENIC and Levy. No matter how many times you make that wish or chant your mantra for change. Not happening anytime ever.
Life becomes a tad easier as a Spurs fan if you switch on to the above facts. Then with that knowledge your never left disappointed or even angry.
Spurs still have a very young squad(24) players average age 25.
Levy/Pochettino still spent £350m on players during his rein albeit at a cost of under £100m nett. The only signings that stand out are Alderweirld,Son,Dele? the rest were average or bad.
Levy’s record in the transfer market is poor. Sadly for Spurs, instead of employing people who know something about football, he has taken it upon himself to be head scout, head of recruitment and chief bottle washer. Whilst other clubs are using data analytics as a recruitment tool to good effect, Levy’s strategy is to buy cheap and hope he finds a valuable nugget. There is nothing in his DNA to suggest that he will ever change.
When it comes to player investment Levy is very risk averse at the best of times, (Louis Saha, “Ryan Nelson), in these uncertain times he will not spend.
I agree with your logic to a degree, but just don’t think Maureen has it any more and when he eventually leaves will not leave much for his successor to work with!