TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

WITH THE COUNTRY’S BEST STADIUM, SPURS CAN FINALLY THROW THEIR WEIGHT AROUND

THE PLAN

‘ Spursy’ no longer. Twelve months on from last summer’s disastrous hiring process, Tottenham now have one of the world’s best managers at the helm, held their nerve in the run- in to pip Arsenal to the final Champions League spot, had the Premier League’s joint- top scorer – who wasn’t even Harry Kane – and, at the end of it all, revealed a £ 150m transfer kitty. It just doesn’t sound like Spurs. Now the plan is to put all of their eggs in the Antonio Conte basket and construct a side in his well- disciplined image. Armed with one of Europe’s most fearsome attacks – Kane, Golden Boot winner Son Heungmin, Dejan Kulusevski and recent pickups Ivan Perisic and Richarlison – plus £ 25m midfielder Yves Bissouma and defender Clement Lenglet, they should really be targeting a top- three finish.

LESSON FROM LAST YEAR

Failure to land your first choice isn’t necessarily a disaster. Yes, the process to replace Jose Mourinho was a study in how not to appoint a new manager, but Spurs got the right man eventually. And January looked similarly shaky, with director of football Fabio Paratici failing to secure the signatures of Luis Diaz ( whose transfer to Liverpool was triggered by Tottenham’s interest) and Wolves’ Adama Traore, before settling on Rodrigo Bentancur and Kulusevski – two players brought to Juventus by Paratici, and available because they had both fallen out of favour in Turin. Yet the pair were among the team’s best performers in the latter half of the season. Kulusevski – then just 21, joining on an 18- month loan – was especially vital in securing a top- four spot, with five goals and eight assists.

THE MOOD

It’s as good as it was in the aftermath of the 2019 Champions League Final. The futures of Conte and Kane were in doubt right until the end of the season – now they look settled again. Plus the stadium is starting to generate money, helping towards long- awaited funds for the playing squad.

ONE TO WATCH

Eric Dier had a renaissance in 2021- 22. Solid even during the short- lived Nuno Espirito Santo spell, the 28- year- old has been instrumental in easing Spurs’ switch to a back three under Conte. His absence from Gareth Southgate’s recent England plans remains a source of bemusement around N17.

MOST LIKELY TO…

Endure a resignation in a January fit of pique. Expect Conte to slam intolerable working conditions and claim that no other manager could have avoided an FA Cup Third Round defeat to Luton without signing six new players in the transfer window.

LEAST LIKELY TO...

Make it to November’s World Cup break injury- free. It just wouldn’t be a major tournament without England’s leading man sparking a nationwide panic and tabloid pleas to place hands on photos of Kane’s metatarsals. Is Uri Geller still around these days?

FFT VERDICT 3rd

With an angry Conte in full edit mode, key signings sorted and no Kane fiasco this time, Spurs look best of the rest.