Tottenham’s transfer business is already well underway for the summer but Ange Postecoglou is still looking to get two or three more names through the door and could end up with an incredible starting XI to start the new campaign.
Timo Werner is back at the club on loan, while Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are both on board and are already making an impression early in pre-season.
However, Postecoglou is still keen to get another No.9 on board as well as sealing a transfer for Crystal Palace standout Eberechi Eze.
With that in mind, TT takes a look at the Tottenham starting XI that could line up for the Premier League opener at Leicester on Monday August 19. Formation 4-2-1-3.
GK: Guglielmo Vicario
Barring some issues commanding his area, particularly from set-pieces, the Italian had an outstanding first season in north London and will look to go from strength to strength this time around.
Clean sheets were an issue though, with only eight in 40 games in total, while he also conceded 62 times. In fairness, some of that was due to the back four changing a fair bit during the first half the campaign due to injuries and suspensions.
However, at 27 years of age, the Italy international has yet to hit his peak for a keeper and will almost certainly have been working on the aspects that let him down during his first season in English football.
RB: Pedro Porro
Porro went from a bit of a laughing stock when he first arrived at the club in early 2023 to being one of the best attacking right-backs in the Premier League last season.
The Spaniard, who was incredibly unlucky to miss out on his country’s Euro 2024 squad, scored four goals and laid on seven assists in 37 total appearances last term and will start the new campaign as Postecoglou’s first choice right-back again despite the summer arrival of Archie Gray from Leeds.
His €40million fee is already starting to look somewhat of a bargain, especially given that the fact that Porro is still only 23.
CB: Cristian Romero
For World Cup winner now read Copa America winner too after the centre-back tasted yet more success with Argentina, once again proving himself as a key performer at the tournament in the US.
Romero has his faults, with his disciplinary issues costing Tottenham last season, but he remains an outstanding centre-back with strong leadership qualities who is still only 26 and will continue to improve with age.
Romero’s partnership with Micky van de Ven has all the hallmarks of being one of the best in the Premier League but he still needs to curb his aggression going forward and cut out the reckless challenges.
Indeed, Tottenham can ill-afford to lose a player of Romero’s quality from any kind of suspension again next season, even if they do have an able deputy in Radu Dragusin to step up.
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CB: Micky van de Ven
There’s a phrase in boxing that ‘speed kills’ and it’s certainly a major asset as a defender too, and Van de Ven has it and then some.
He may not be the quickest over 10 yards but give the Dutchman a chance to get those legs galloping and he will in a foot race 99 times out of 100.
Van de Ven’s game is not all about speed though, his awareness, positioning and quality in possession also make him an incredible asset for a player who could end up costing in the region of £43million.
The Netherlands international also showcased his ability to fill in at left-back too in the final games of last season and looked completely at home in the role.
That’s certainly something for Postecoglou to consider if he wants to hand more game time to Dragusin, while also giving his team more weapons to deal with some of the set-piece issues they suffered from last season.
LB: Destiny Udogie
Another player who excelled in his first season in English football, although injury issues forced him to miss the closing stages of the campaign.
Udogie’s ability to move into central midfield and give Tottenham an advantage in numbers was pivotal early in the campaign as Postecoglou’s men made a flying start.
He was prone to the odd defensive lapse but his threat in attack made him a nightmare for opposing defences to deal with.
Udogie does need to improve in terms of his discipline, however, having been suspended twice last season.
CM: Archie Gray
This is a bit of a punt, given that Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr are probably more likely to start in central midfield ahead of the summer signing from Leeds, but such has been the impression made by Gray that Postecoglou has no choice but to throw him in.
At £30m, the 18-year-old could turn out to be one of the bargains of the summer, especially given his versatility to play in midfield or as cover at right-back.
The teenager was even trusted to line up at centre-back in the friendly win at Hearts on Wednesday evening, earning race reviews in the process.
Gray’s calmness in possession and ability to play and drive forward half-turn make him ideally suited to slot into the side as Postecoglou’s defensive midfielder.
The reason he gets the nod over both Bissouma and Sarr is the struggles both endured in the second half of last season after returning from the African Cup on Nations.
