The 2015-16 season of the Premier League was one of the most interesting campaigns in recent times. The big guns struggled to dominate the league while Leicester City ran away with the prize come the end of the season. But the Tottenham Hotspur side were equally impressive until the end and gave the Foxes a run for their money up until the final month of the season. However, with the new season starting, Mauricio Pochettino, the Spurs’ manager will try and look to improve the quality in the squad to help his side replicate their performance from the last season or even better it.
The transfer window and the decisions the manager makes in the window have huge repercussions on the whole campaign so it is important for the manager to make sure that he adds the right players to the squad who can lift them to a better finish next season. So how has Pochettino fared in the transfer window so far? Let’s take a look at every deal he has completed this summer to try and understand if the manager at White Hart Lane is doing enough to warrant another year in the top-4 in the Premier League.
Ins
Vincent Janssen (AZ Alkmaar; £18.6m)
Dutch international Vincent Janssen was the Eredivisie’s top scorer last season with 27 goals and is one of the most inform strikers in Europe at the moment. Pochettino does not need a first team striker this summer but has gone out and purchased Janssen who will take up the responsibilities as a deputy to Harry Kane in the team. He will also help build competition for places in the team and will help Kane stay at the top of his game in every outing.
Victor Wanyama (Southampton; £11m)
A midfield powerhouse who will add more wheels to an already energetic midfield at Spurs, the Southampton midfielder is a superb purchase for the club this summer. A midfield of Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama is easily one of the most exciting in the Premier League next season and if the trio can click together, Spurs can easily challenge for the title for the second consecutive season.
Outs
Christopher Paul (QPR, free)
18-year old English midfielder was not able to make an impact at Tottenham Hotspur and signed a 1-year deal at Loftus Road early in the summer. He was released from the Tottenham academy and he will be hoping to make himself a name at the Championship outfit next season.
Filip Lesniak (Slovan Liberec, loan)
Slovakian international Filip Lesniak is a defensive midfielder who was a constant presence in Spurs’ U-21 team last season. The 20-year old has not been able to burst into the first team but Pochettino is impressive with the youngster and has sent him on loan to Czech side Slovan Liberec to help him find some game time.
Emmanuel Sonupe (released)
The 20-year old England national has not done enough in his time at White Hart Lane to impress the manager and has not been able to extend his stay at the club. The manager decided that he has no future at the club and has decided for him to be released on a free this summer.
These deals show that the manager knows each and every player in the squad to perfection and will let go of any player who does not fit into his plans next season. He knows that he has a decent squad to play with and that it needs to be strengthened to help them compete at the highest level in Europe and in the Premier League. He has made some smart moves so far and if he can get another couple of transfer targets to sign this summer, it will be a great season ahead for the Spurs.
