Source: SKY_Sports
Season shape-up - Tottenham
Tottenham will be confident of mounting a stronger challenge for European qualification when the new season gets underway but transfer window specialist Harry Redknapp is likely to tinker with his squad over the next couple of months. Lewis Rutledge assesses what Spurs need to do to move closer to the Premier League's top clubs.
What's happened so farThere has been little transfer activity at White Hart Lane since the end of the Premier League season, although Portuguese defender Ricardo Rocha has left the club after two-and-a-half difficult years.
Rocha's exit could be a sign of things to come, with reports suggesting that Harry Redknapp is prepared to wield the axe before bringing in players of high quality.
The Tottenham boss will feel the foundations are in place for his men to mount a much stronger challenge for European qualification, although they would surely have secured a Europa League berth in 2008/9 had it not been for such a dismal start.
Redknapp immediately identified a lack of steel in his squad as a major problem when he took charge last October and he significantly strengthened every department in the January transfer window, signing players such as Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios, Pascal Chimbonda and Carlo Cudicini.
The spine of the team looks much more impressive, with Keane, Defoe, Palacios, Jermaine Jenas, Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate and the improving Heurelho Gomes all likely to remain key figures over the next 12 months.
The task for Redknapp now is to fill in the blanks and the rumour mill has already gone into overdrive, which will not be helped in the coming weeks by the manager's willingness to express a liking for just about anyone.
Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb has invited Spurs to re-open negotiations for Stewart Downing, while Ruud van Nistelrooy, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Arjen Robben have also been linked with a switch to London.
Recruiting any member of this Dutch trio would demonstrate the extent of Redknapp's ambition, while other potential targets include Luca Toni, Maxi Rodriguez, Arda Turan and Kalu Uche.
Speculation has also surfaced connecting Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson with a move back to Tottenham.
What they needMost of the positions look strong but Redknapp will want more depth to his squad to create competition for places, particularly down the left-hand side of his team.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto emerged as a fine full-back last term but his spot could still be vulnerable, while ahead of him Spurs lacked an out-and-out left winger and had to rely on Luka Modric providing a different kind of threat.
The Croatian has been linked with a move elsewhere and it is vital for Redknapp to hold onto a player he regards as world-class.
Palacios has made a huge impact and another midfielder with similar battling qualities would make Tottenham much more formidable, while a tall, physical target man would complement the short and skilful Keane and Defoe.
King's fitness will always be a concern and Redknapp would feel happier with another option at centre-back.
Tottenham may not have much money left to spend after a busy winter but considerable funds could be raised by several high-profile departures.
There is likely to be a steady stream of players going through the exit door and Gilberto, Gareth Bale, Didier Zokora, David Bentley, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Tom Huddlestone, Giovani dos Santos, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent could all leave.
Redknapp is a master in the transfer window and will probably make as many signings as he can in an effort to compete with the top clubs.
He should be able to attract one or two big-name players to the club, probably in attack and midfield, and he has made it clear that he will be targeting experienced professionals in the prime of their careers.
It would come as a surprise if he did not reinforce every area from defence to attack.
Fan's view - Shawn HolderAs a Tottenham fan I am hoping that Mr Redknapp can use his 'wheeling and dealing' techniques to make 3/4 big name signings at small time prices.
For a number of years now it seems that Tottenham's transfer policy has been to pay over the top prices for players that have really not performed consistently well (i.e Bent and Bentley) and have also not lived up to the hype and the price tags that have surrounded them. In my opinion there are 3 main areas that spurs need to improve on, those being a CB as cover for the injury prone Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate, a LM as we haven't had any strength and threat there for a good few years now and also another striker if rumours are to be believed that Jermain Defoe is the only safe forward.
As with any other team, there are a lot of rumours in the press but I would love to see some truth in them regarding Ashley Young as he is the only player we have been linked with that I would love to see at Spurs!!
