£70m star signs & no Son

There isn’t any escaping from it: this season has been an entire catastrophe for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s facet are 14th within the Premier League, out of the FA Cup, and whereas they’ve an opportunity of profitable the Europa League, it feels extremely slim.

Furthermore, whereas the Australian has needed to cope with a mountain of accidents this yr, he had what was nearly a full-strength workforce on Sunday and nonetheless misplaced away to Fulham.

So, following their nineteenth loss in all competitions over the weekend, it wasn’t an enormous shock to see an entire host of managers linked with the Lilywhites’ job, together with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.

The Spaniard has carried out a marvellous job on the south coast, however what would his dream Spurs lineup appear like if he was appointed in the summertime and allowed to usher in some new signings?

1

GK – Guglielmo Vicario

Maybe a few months in the past, simply after Antonín Kinský’s spectacular debut in opposition to Liverpool, this spot would have at the very least been up for debate.

Nevertheless, as time went on, the younger Czech shot-stopper made the kind of errors you’d anticipate a younger goalkeeper to make, and since he returned from damage, Guglielmo Vicario has reminded everybody simply how good he might be.

The Italian is a superb shot-stopper, and whereas he can typically make the odd mistake, he is undoubtedly going to stay Spurs’ primary subsequent season, no matter who’s within the dugout.

2

RB – Djed Spence

The primary outfield participant within the lineup is likely one of the few who can come out of this season together with his head held excessive: Djed Spence.

Since he was given a correct probability to show his value in December, the “swashbuckling” right-back, as dubbed by Ian Wright, has been one of many Lilywhites’ greatest gamers.

Like Pedro Porro, the Englishman might be deadly in assault, however in contrast to the Spaniard, he can be trusted to do the defensive facet of the function and do it to a excessive commonplace as nicely.

3

CB – Marc Guéhi

Followers may not wish to hear this, however primarily based on current studies, it seems like there’s a actual probability that Cristian Romero might be on his solution to Actual Madrid in the summertime.

Nevertheless, whereas the Argentine will surely be a loss, Iraola might doubtlessly change him with the unimaginable Marc Guéhi, who was the topic of a £70m bid from Spurs within the winter window.

The Englishman may not fairly have the pedigree of the World Cup winner, however regardless of being simply 24 years previous, the 6 foot titan has already amassed 206 first-team appearances throughout his profession, with 145 of these coming for Palace, 59 with Swansea Metropolis and two with Chelsea.

Furthermore, he was an integral a part of the England facet that reached the ultimate of the European Championships in the summertime, so he’s clearly somebody who thrives in high-pressure conditions, which might be simply what the Lilywhites want.

4

CB – Micky van de Ven

Alongside Guéhi would be the sensational Micky van de Ven, who, when match, is undoubtedly one among Tottenham’s most vital gamers.

The Dutch worldwide, who revered expertise scout Jacek Kulig described as “full & dominant”, is the proper defender for a workforce that wish to play aggressive and expressive soccer, as his record-setting pace means he can get again to cease counter-attacks when different centre-backs merely cannot.

Now, there are nonetheless severe query marks over his potential to stay match, however you have to reside in hope, proper?

5

LB – Future Udogie

Rounding out the defence is one other participant who has battled with accidents, Future Udogie.

It could be truthful to say that the Italian worldwide has not had the very best of campaigns this season, but it surely shouldn’t be forgotten simply how good he was in his first yr on the membership.

In 23/24, the Verona-born “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Travis Levison, made 30 appearances, wherein he scored two targets, supplied three assists and have become the primary Tottenham participant ever to be nominated for the Premier League’s Younger Participant of the Season award.

Subsequently, it might make sense for Iraola to provide him one other season to see how he fares in a brand new system, because the expertise there’s plain.

6

DM – Angel Gomes

Shifting into the midfield, the second new face within the lineup is that of LOSC Lille star Angel Gomes.

The Englishman’s contract with the French facet expires this summer time, which means he’ll be obtainable at no cost, and Spurs have made no secret of their admiration for him.

It is simple to know why the North Londoners would wish to signal the “particular” 24-year-old, as dubbed by former supervisor Jocelyn Gourvennec, as not solely can he assist mop up opposition assaults on the base of midfield, however he can begin his personal due to his good passing vary and spectacular ball management.

For instance, FBref has positioned him within the prime 1% of midfielders in Europe’s prime 5 leagues for anticipated assisted targets and penalty kicks received, the highest 3% for goal-creating actions from take-ons, the highest 5% for passes into the penalty space and the highest 8% for key passes, all per 90.

7

CM – James Maddison

Slotting in simply forward of Gomes can be fellow Englishman James Maddison.

The previous Leicester Metropolis star might be an extremely irritating participant at instances, somebody who can fade out of video games, however when he is on track, the midfielder is undoubtedly one of the vital artistic and harmful within the Premier League.

For instance, in simply 38 appearances this season, the Coventry-born star has scored 11 targets and supplied seven assists, which comes out to a mean of a aim involvement each 2.11 video games.

8

CM – Dejan Kulusevski

Rounding out the midfield can be arguably Tottenham’s greatest participant, Dejan Kulusevski.

Initially signed as a winger, the “world-class” Swede, as dubbed by Kulig, has been in scintillating kind this season, a lot of which he has spent in the midst of the park.

In all, the previous Juventus star has scored ten targets and supplied ten assists in 42 appearances for the Lilywhites this yr, which comes out to a superb common of a aim involvement each 2.1 video games.

9

RW – Antoine Semenyo

Beginning at right-wing, it might be one among Iraola’s star males this season: Antoine Semenyo.

The “unplayable” Bournemouth winger, as dubbed by journalist Ed Aarons, has been in unimaginable kind this season, racking up a tally of 9 targets and 5 assists in simply 32 appearances for the Cherries.

Which means the 25-year-old, whom analyst Ben Mattinson described as possessing “highly effective ambipedal ball putting,” is averaging a aim involvement each 2.28 video games for a workforce exterior the standard ‘large six.’

10

ST – Dominic Solanke

Beginning up prime would be the membership’s present file signing: Dominic Solanke.

Whereas the previous Bournemouth man has needed to endure a while out as a result of damage this season, he is seemed nice when he is been on the pitch.

For instance, in 33 appearances, the Basingstoke-born monster has scored 11 targets and supplied eight assists, which comes out to a mean of a aim involvement each 1.73 video games and demonstrates that he is greater than only a aim menace.

11

LW – Mathys Tel

Final however not least, it will be the promising Mathys Tel who begins out on the left subsequent season, instead of membership captain Son Heung-min.

Now, this may require the activation of the £45m choice within the Frenchman’s mortgage deal, and honestly, he hasn’t precisely blown individuals away thus far.

Nevertheless, that choice was positioned within the preliminary deal as a result of the membership see him as a long-term choice and somebody with luggage and luggage of potential, which primarily based on his kind final season, definitely appears to be the case.

For instance, in 41 first-team appearances, totalling simply 1406 minutes, the “mind-blowing” ahead, as dubbed by Kulig, scored ten targets and supplied six assists, which comes out to a mean of a aim involvement each 2.56 video games, or extra impressively, each 87.87 minutes.

Furthermore, in contrast to Son, Tel is a participant that Iraola might proceed to construct a workforce round for years to come back.

Iraola’s dream Spurs XI for 2025/26 in full: Guglielmo Vicario; Djed Spence, Marc Guehi, Micky Van de Ven, Future Udogie; Angel Gomes, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski; Antoine Semenyo, Dominic Solanke, Mathys Tel