Team needs: 3 more moves Tottenham should make in the transfer window
With the additions of Vincent Janssen and Victor Wanyama, Tottenham has addressed some holes in its squad ahead of a return to Champions League football where depth is at a premium.
"To play in the Champions League, the Premier League and the cups, it's important to have a very good balance," said Mauricio Pochettino. "We need to improve our squad. The Champions League demands a lot of energy, more than the Europa League."
Understanding that Spurs have identified and swiftly dealt with liabilities in the first team, here's a look at three further changes Pochettino could expedite for the betterment of the team:
Attacking midfielder
Lacking a versatile attacking midfielder that can play any of three positions across the middle as per Pochettino's preference, Tottenham would be wise to target a player of that profile if the speculated transfer for Marseille's Georges-Kevin N'Koudou dissolves.
An ideal addition would have been Liverpool new-boy Georginio Wijnaldum, though there are other options if Spurs are to look abroad.
In Ligue 1, Lyon's Nabil Fekir and Lille's Sofiane Boufal could fill that void, with the latter more likely to be sold as part of Les Dogues' annual summer fire sale. The club has also reportedly expressed in interest in Mainz star Yunus Malli in the past.
Potential target: Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Sofiane Boufal (Lille), Yunus Malli (Mainz)
A fourth centre-back
Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Kevin Wimmer form a formidable trio of centre-backs, though a side competing in the league, two domestic cups and Champions League requires at least a fourth member.
Looking to break into the first team, Cameron Carter-Vickers is a highly-regarded academy product, though at 20, it would be unfair to rely upon the youngster.
With Vertonghen nursing a torn ankle ligament that will see him miss the start of the year, some relief for the pairing of Alderweireld and Wimmer would be wise. A loan move would work, and perhaps Juventus can be talked into a temporary move for Daniele Rugani. Other options include: a loan move for Norwich City's Timm Klose or fellow Championship dweller Chancel Mbemba from Newcastle.
Potential target: Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Timm Klose (Norwich), Chancel Mbemba (Newcastle)
Out with the old...
As Pochettino's squad begins to take shape in the image of its no-nonsense gaffer, a handful of fringe players should likely be sold before the window slams shut on Sept. 1.
Apologies to this trio of periphery players, but Clinton Njie, Tom Carroll and Nacer Chadli don't appear to have the pedigree necessary for a club fighting for honours on multiple fronts.
Tough luck for Njie, who had his debut season at White Hart Lane interrupted by a serious knee injury, but with the acquisition of Janssen, the Cameroonian has become surplus to requirements.
If Federico Fazio and Benjamin Stambouli's brief stays with the club are any indication, Pochettino doesn't require more than a season to pass judgment on a player.
Like Njie, Carroll and Chadli have run their course at Tottenham.
While Carroll is still on the club's books through 2018, he was poor against Newcastle in that famous defeat that saw Spurs drop to third behind hated rival Arsenal. Once highly touted whilst a member of the academy, at 24, Carroll has yet to secure first team football, even during loan spells with Swansea and QPR.
Recall the debacle at St. James' Park once more. Spurs were down two goals, and faced with a halftime sub, Pochettino opted for teenager Josh Onomah over Chadli. The writing is on the wall for the Belgian international.