After a brilliant start to the 2023/2024 Premier League season under new coach Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur lost momentum later in the campaign. The lack of depth in the team was exposed after a few key players suffered from injuries and could not be properly replaced.
Postecoglou has claimed that his sides always win something in his second season and many will now be looking out for Tottenham tickets to see if they would claim any form of silverware this season.
Going into the transfer window, they needed to address the issue of their lack of depth in midfield and also provide a suitable goalscorer as Brazilian forward Richarlison had found it difficult to properly replace former striker Harry Kane due to both constant injuries and lack of form.
They spent a total amount of about €144.9 million on incomings while making a total of about €54.3 million in player sales.
Key incomings
Dominic Solanke: The most high-profile signing of the summer for Spurs was signed from Bournemouth for €64.3 million after a very impressive 2023/24 season. He was brought in to fill the void left by club legend Harry Kane, who had joined Bayern Munich at the start of the previous season. Solanke was also brought in as the club believed that he would be an upgrade on former Everton striker Richarlison, who has found it difficult to find his form during his time at the North London side.
Solanke has a lot of Premier League experience and will suit the playing style of Ange Postecoglou. His ability to press and versatility in attack is an asset and he will be very important for Spurs in the season.
Archie Gray: The 17-year-old midfielder was signed from Leeds United for about €41.3 million. It was not difficult to see why Spurs paid such a huge amount for a teenager, as Gray was one of the most impressive players in the English championship last season. His versatility in midfield can see him play as an attacking midfielder, deep-lying playmaker or on the right side of the defense. Gray has a lot of potential and although he is relatively inexperienced, he will surely develop into an important player for Spurs.
Wilson Odobert: The 19-year-old winger was signed from Burnley for about €29.3 million. Despite the club’s relegation to the English championship, Odobert was one of the bright sparks for the club. He showed flashes of brilliance and dazzled when he was allowed to show his talent.
The Frenchman’s speed and dribbling make him an important addition and he will provide cover for Brennan Johnson and Heung-Min Son. He is a very good carrier of the ball and can take on defenders very well. Although he is also very young and inexperienced, he will hope to make an impact in the Spurs team this season as evident in a recent premier league game against Everton, where he completed more take-ons than any other player in the match.
Lucas Bergvall: Bergvall is another teenager who was signed by Ange Postecoglou. The midfielder joined from Swedish Allsvenskan side Djurgarden for about €10 million.
Although the 18-year-old does not have experience playing in any of the top five leagues, he could produce some real quality with time. His vision and technicality will be of use when called upon. Although he has been used sparingly, he could be key when he gets into his own.
Min-hyeok Yang: The South Korean winger, who has been signed from Gangwon FC in South Korea, is expected to join the squad in January 2025. He was signed for a fee of about €4 million. Adapting to the premier league should be made easy for the winger due to the presence of fellow countryman Son-Heung Min. Min-hyeok Yang is one of the most talented players in South Korean football as he is comfortable operating on both wings and his career has already seen him break several records including becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of his previous club, Gangwon, and also the South-Korean League.
Key Outgoings:
Oliver Skipp: The academy product left Spurs to join newly-promoted Leicester City for a fee of about €23.5 million. Skipp showed glimpses of his talent but could not stake a place in the first team due to the competition in midfield with many players ahead of him.
Emerson Royal: Royal sealed a move to AC Milan for a fee of about €15 million. The full-back, who was constantly criticized during his time at Spurs for his defensive abilities, struggled to impress during his time at North London.
Eric Dier: The English midfielder spent the majority of last season on loan at Bayern Munich after losing his place in the starting lineup. It was no surprise to see him move back to the Allianz Arena at the end of his contract for Spurs after some decent showings during his time on loan.
Tanguy Ndombele: The midfielder who was bought from Lyon failed to light up the premier league and had spent some seasons on loan away from Spurs. Given his high wages and lack of impact, Spurs had no reason to keep him and his departure was certain. He joined French outfit Nice on a free transfer.
Joe Rodon: The center-back moved to Championship side Leeds for about €11.8 million. Given his limited playing time and battle with injuries, his departure was always foreseen.
Giovani Lo Celso: The Argentine midfielder moved to Spanish side Real Betis for a relatively low fee of about €5 million. During his time at spurs, he failed to live up to his hype as he suffered from different injuries and inconsistencies.
Other notable exits include Ryan Sessegnon who particularly failed to light up the North London side after the hype surrounding his signing. There was also Bryan Gil who joined Girona on loan, Ivan Perisic who joined Croatian side Hajduk Split on a free transfer, Manor Solomon who joined Leeds United on loan, and Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg who moved to Olympique Marseille on loan.
Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer window addressed key areas where they needed reinforcements especially in attack with the signing of Solanke and in midfield where they brought in players who could provide cover for the key players if unavailable. The signing of Odobert also brings another dimension to the attack.
However, the downfall to this transfer is that most of their signings are still young and could take quite a while before they begin to yield the fruits. The kind of business they've done also points to the fact that the Tottenham board is willing to be patient with Postecoglou.
On the other hand, the departures freed up spaces on the wage bill as inconsistent and injury-hit players were moved on. Spurs managed to keep hold of their best legs. Although none of their stars attracted attention.
