It has been over a year since Antonio Conte took over from Nuno Espirito Santo as Tottenham’s manager and what a journey it has been taking Spurs from a poor 9th place to an unthinkable 4th place Champions League finish. While everyone was well aware of Conte’s stacked and impressive resume no one thought he could turn a stagnant and directionless Spurs team into a real force and a team that played impressive and exciting football. The January signings of Juventus rejects Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur breathed new life into the team. With coolness and composure in the midfield from Bentancur that Tottenham hasn’t seen since the likes of Moussa Dembele. And strength, pace and a wicked left foot on the right wing from Dejan Kulusevski. Spurs looked like a new team and outworked every team that they played against. This was a big part of the method for Conte as when he first arrived Spurs were bottom of the distance covered for the whole of the entire premier league. Conte’s arrival saw Ketchup Mayonnaise and Fast food banned with the intention of raising the Spurs’ players’ fitness and the overall distance covered the number of the entire team. Conte’s demand for winning and passion for his team saw Spurs beat the likes of Man City at the Etihad and Arsenal at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and rise an unthinkable 5 places to pip their rivals Arsenal to a top 4 finish.
An impressive summer transfer window saw the likes of Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Djed Spence, Clement Lenglet, Fraser Forster and veteran Ivan Perisic being brought in. In an attempt to grow on the success that Tottenham had found under Conte last season. Fans were excited about Champions League football and investment in the squad that fans have been screaming at Chairman Daniel Levy for a good transfer window. The sky was the limit for Spurs right? Well not exactly.
A positive win against Southampton at the start of the season seemed to show that Spurs were about to pick up from exactly where they left off in the previous season however an unsure performance against Chelsea showed that maybe Spurs weren’t exactly at the level that many fans would have hoped for. And while Spurs were gaining results many began to see that Spurs were not on the level that they were on last season. Spurs’ winning streak was eventually ended by a 2-0 defeat to Sporting in a game that was 0-0 until the 90th minute. Their first loss in the Premier League came just under a month later in an unimpressive 3-1 defeat against Arsenal which saw Brazilian Right Wing Back Emerson Royal sent off to add to Spurs’ misery. Even though Spurs still haven’t managed to recreate the immense form they had last season they still sit in an impressive 4th place and have managed to progress into the knockout stage of the champions league where they will face Italian giants AC Milan in a game that fans are excited for. However, Spurs’ performances need to be better if they want to end their trophyless run and ensure that another season of Champions League football returns to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. So where has it gone wrong for Spurs this season?
Spurs haven’t been without their injuries this season with players such as Dejan Kulusevski, Cuti Romero, Richarlison, and Heung-Min Son all being sidelined. As well as summer signing Richarlison is yet to score a premier league goal for Spurs. While Heung-Min Son looks like a shadow of the Golden boot player he was last season netting only 3 goals in the premier league. Whether it’s an unprecedented World Cup in December or players struggling to settle in Spurs will hope to resume the season in a much more positive way and play football similar to when they were at their best last season. But how do Tottenham do that?
It’s been reported that Tottenham is looking to sign at least 2 new players in January with Antonio Conte wanting further promises on transfers as well as similarities in ambition in order to put pen to paper on an extension on the 18-month contract he signed over a year ago. In January Tottenham could look to address the Right Wing Back problem as well as the desperate need for an Attacking Midfielder. While also putting the focus on signing a more senior and skilful Centre-Back. While Spurs are looking at a range of different positions, what players do they have their eyes on?
Pedro Porro
Embed from Getty ImagesA fantastic option for RWB, the Spaniard has 4 assists this season already while also displaying beautiful attacking football and a real drive for getting forward. The Spaniard also has a reasonable 45 Million Euro release clause which Spurs have ‘apparently’ no problem in paying, however, the only deterring issue could be the player’s overall physical conditions with Porro missing several games in recent years due to muscle injuries and various knocks. With Tottenham scouts enquiring for more detailed reports on the physical condition overall. For sure a player to keep tabs on in the January transfer window with news circulating.
Ruslan Malinovskyi
Embed from Getty ImagesSpurs were in negotiations to sign the Ukrainian playmaker in the summer with a deal reported to be close however the deal never managed to materialise. However several reports are now circulating that Spurs have agreed on a deal to sign Malinovskyi and that the Ukrainian dreams of a move to the North London club it is also being further reported that Spurs are free to sign Malinovskyi for a bargain £13 million. With Tottenham desperate for an Attacking Midfielder and Malinovskyi available for such a cheap price it looks like a deal that is destined to happen.
With the World Cup over and the January transfer window rapidly approaching. Spurs will have their eyes set on new signings in order to strengthen the club. Conte will hope the signings will have the same effect Bentancur and Kulusevski had in January last year. Overall Conte has come back from the winter break with this message for his team “We Start to Win, Then we see the way” Spurs fans sure will hope this is a message that the Spurs players can take on board and put into effect. Whatever happens, the January transfer window is quickly approaching after a never seen World Cup in Winter. Be sure that it’s going to be exciting. But be even more sure that all the news is covered. Stay tuned
