We’re not even into July yet and some clubs are already well into the swing of their transfer dealings. Spurs meanwhile have showed intent by signing Brad Friedel on a free. I’m sure that this is the kind of signing that will again have Fergie proclaiming us as the ones to watch this coming season.
With the press continuing to link us to everyone and anyone that may or may not be a triffic player or a top, top player and nice lad to boot, I often find myself in seemingly endless circular conversations, discussing various rumours. This is my look at some of those rumours and how things may pan out over the coming weeks and months.
Goalkeepers
Gomes? There are still noises about the flappy Brazilian going back to PSV and this could still very well happen. His confidence is shot and I fail to believe he was ‘injured’ at the end of the season. Anyone who’s seen Jermain Defoe stumble over his lines on his Sky Sports special will be equally cynical. A return to Eindhoven where he is still revered could be what he needs. With only a year left on his contract I’m not sure we would get much more than £5-£6m.
If Gomes were to leave it’s been mentioned that we’d still be in for another keeper. Steve Mandanda of Marseille is one name linked. Like Gomes he only has a year left on his contract so wouldn’t be too expensive. However he’s never impressed me, most recently looking distinctly Gomes-like against Ukraine in an international friendly. Rob Green is of course the horror choice that would be most Redknapp like. However it appears that he could move abroad. Best for him I’d say. We should be looking at Samir Handanovic from Udinese or Diego Benaglio from Wolfsburg but I doubt we are.
What will happen? Probably no more movement.
Full backs
I would hope that someone somewhere is willing to take Alan Hutton off our hands. I’d imagine that’s his wish also. Good, glad we’re all happy. There’s no need for any other out bound movement. The rumoured loan of Kyle Walker to QPR is to me unacceptable. He may have made a couple of errors at the back end of the season but over the course of the year did enough to show he’s capable of pushing Corluka for the starting spot at right back. There’s also no need for anyone to come in as Danny Rose seems more than capable of pushing BAE at left back. There’s also Kyle Naughton to consider as well as Younes Kaboul’s (questionable) ability to cover on the right.
Centrebacks
This is an area that I see little reason for us to concentrate on but there are sound arguments as to why we might be in the market for another defender. Sebastian Bassong appears destined to leave, having expressed his desire to do so and a couple of teams showing interest, most vocally Wolves. Whoever gets him will get a good centreback who’s been treated harshly. He was vital in us reaching the Champions League but seemingly discarded this year. Even when Seb goes we are still left with King, Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul and Woodgate in our first team squad. Woody may very well be released, his only hope of staying would be on a pay as you play deal. Much as I rate him, if he’d have stayed fit through his career I’m certain he’d have 100 caps for England, I think it’s best he goes. Staying will only hamper the development of Kaboul and Steven Caulker. Caulker is being linked with loan moves, Swansea the latest to chime in. Bristol City obviously want him back, their fans seem convinced that he’s a future England defender. With those names in mind I don’t see any need for us to make moves for Roger Johnson, Chris Samba or Rio Ferdinand as has been mentioned.
We’ll probably buy someone and send Caulker on loan again.
Wingers
If as imagined this is the transfer window where we permanently dispose of David Bentley, Giovanni Dos Santos and Niko Kranjcar then we will definitely need to strengthen on the wings. Assuming we continue to play with two traditional wide men it would make sense that Lennon and Bale were the starting pair. Andros Townsend may be given a chance to step up and may well be ready to do so. We’ve now been linked with Gervinho who can play on either side and are allegedly set to battle it out with Arsenal and Newcastle for the Lille man. I’d like us to be looking at Junior Hoilett from Blackburn but I doubt they will want to be selling another young talent so soon after Jones (assuming his transfer goes through). Dutch international Eljero Elia from HSV Hamburg is another good talent that has been mentioned as coming to the Premier League, it would be good to throw our hat into the ring if he does. Xherdan Shaqiri impressed last week for Switzerland against England and starred for their Under 21′s Saturday night versus Denmark. He’s adding £££’s to his price tag every day, would be nice to see us make a move for someone like him to back up our jet heeled pair.
Central midfield
Modric is going nowhere. I refuse to countenance the thought of it. He’s irreplaceable. So lets say he’s staying. It’ll make everyone much calmer. Sandro and Huddlestone seem equally settled. Palacios seems certain to go, Napoli still the most likely destination. Wolves are determined to complete the Jamie O’Hara deal. Both could have offered something but it’s clear they would prefer first team football. Good luck to them both. Is this endex for Jenas? It’s said he’s a good bench player because he doesn’t moan, the counter point being that most of us would be happy to pick up £50k per week for doing very little. If he does go then it would leave us light in this area (however unlikely that would appear to be) unless Jake Livermore is ready to step up. Even if he is, it’s not really Harry’s way. Not when he can snap up Scotty Parker. Or Charlie Adam. Those two stars of relegation fodder are the most linked to us and both would be typical short term, short sighted signings and would hamper the development of existing talent. Rumours of a £25m move for Jack Rodwell are also probably way short of the mark. No doubt about it he is a talented player and in the current market, that price is probably about what would be needed to prise him from Everton. I just can’t see Levy giving the green light to that amount on a player who isn’t the complete package.
Forwards
As usual we’ve been linked with pretty much everyone. We have to assume(hope) that Keane won’t be a Tottenham player. Of the remaining three we are led to believe that there is no real need to get rid of them. Crouch is being increasingly linked with Sunderland with Gyan coming the other way. The Ghanian is said to be keen on a move to London and his livewire style would certainly provide our creative midfield with a willing target. If I thought there was any chance that Redknapp could ever motivate Pav, I would be screaming for him to stay. As he demonstrates when he wants for us and most of the time for Russia he can be lethal and a true match winner. I don’t think this is possible though and if we were to get the right money we should take it. Defoe remains committed to the cause and it seems unlikely that Harry will sell one of his favourite sons.
Links with Leandro Damiao continue but even if we get our man he won’t be the answer to all our problems immediately. Same can be said for Connor Wickham although he now seems destined for Liverpool and the Dalglish/Commolli revolution. Diego Forlan is still linked but I don’t feel he’s the man to link with Van der Vaart. Didier Drogba if available would be my personal short term fix. A proven Premier League goalscorer and winner who has proven he can play in the kind of systems that will get the best out of Rafa. He could well prove an unpopular choice with some supporters but I feel he could have a similar impact for our front line as William Gallas has had at the back. A lack of Champions League football could rule us out of the race for him but I believe the temptation to stay in The Best League in the World™ and prove that he’s still got it could be telling. Dimitar Berbatov has been mentioned and it’s a move that has divided opinion. It’s not one I would welcome but I feel certain he’d link well with Rafa and Luka.
Daniel Osvaldo from Espanyol has been very heavily linked with us and other clubs. He’d cost around £10-£12m and many have asked who is he? He’s not a household name for sure, but as Javier Hernandez has proven you don’t always need to spend £20m+ to get goals. Osvaldo is 25 and has been in good form for Catalonia’s second club. I’d be happy enough to see us make a move for him. As long as our scouts are convinced that he’s better than what we have.
All of this above is just my views on what’s been said and what could happen. With nothing solid to go on we’re in for a fair few weeks more of all the hype and nonsense. I’ll say this, don’t believe any of it. When the club announce a deal is done, get excited. Or angry. Or indignant. Don’t wind yourself up before then though. That’s when it’s real.
As with all transfer windows, we shall continue to see Spurs linked with numerous players, encouragingly enough though, The Guardian’s Rumour Mill column today didn’t mention Spurs once. This is encouraging. Liverpool and City along with a potential Arsenal exodus are hogging the limelight. This is good. Hopefully we can quietly go about our business without advertising it to everyone and sign a few quality players to help us push on and prove our ambitions. Once we’ve sold our deadwood first of course. Daniel wouldn’t have it any other way.
COYS
Stuart Watts (@Studub on Twitter)
Spurs News 24/7
