Tottenham will be under no illusions about the size of the task awaiting them as they go into the 2020/21 season.
A sixth-place finish was not what they would have hoped for at the start of the season, but things could have been worse.
The problem is that those who ended the campaign below them will be strengthening over the summer, as will those who ended the campaign in the top five. Jose Mourinho will need to get his signings right if he wants to get his team challenging for another top-four finish.
We’ve taken a look at how some of the names linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium might fit into a dream XI.
Goalkeeper and defence
Hugo Lloris has looked back to something approaching his best form since returning from injury, meaning a new goalkeeper is not an urgent priority, with Paulo Gazzaniga an able deputy and veteran Michel Vorm moving on.
Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld have shown nothing to suggest they’ll lose their places at the heart of the defence, but we could see at least one change in the full-back spots.
Spurs are expected to go after an upgrade on Serge Aurier on the right, and Norwich City’s Max Aarons seems to fit the bill. The relegated Canaries could well be tempted to part with the youngster for the right price.
Speaking of youngsters, Japhet Tanganga has impressed on both sides under Mourinho and pleased fans by committing his long-term future to Tottenham. With Ryan Sessegnon available as a more attacking option, and Ben Davies capable of filling in when needed, would it be a huge surprise if the academy product is trusted on the left as the season gets underway?
Midfield
Will Mourinho’s recruitment influence his midfield, or will his midfield influence the recruitment? That’s the big what-if here.
The Spurs boss is believed to be a fan of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who Spurs should be able to secure for the right price considering the Dane has just one year left on his Southampton deal.
There’s still a question mark over whether Hojbjerg would join Eric Dier as one of two deeper-lying midfielders or be used in an either-or situation, but the former would arguably allow Spurs to bring the best out of Giovani Lo Celso.
The only question might concern a lack of width, but this is where the full-backs will earn their spots in the team by supporting those in the middle of the park.
Forwards
Harry Kane’s spot seems more or less set in stone, providing he’s happy to take a year without Champions League football. And regardless, any rundown of dream signings probably has to assume the best current members of the squad stick around.
Son Heung-min’s place in the team also seems secure, considering his role as one of Spurs’ most important players in 2019/20, which leaves one spot available. With the remaining place shared between a number of squad members, including Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela, it’s prime for a new man to take over.
The romantic option, of course, is a return for Gareth Bale. The Welshman looks just about ready to leave Real Madrid after seven years in the Spanish capital, and there can’t be too many Spurs fans who’d turn down a homecoming.
As for the other options when it comes to a new recruit, it comes down to experience versus potential. Philippe Coutinho has heaps of the former and has shown before how he can make a real impact at Premier League level.
At the younger end of the scale, we have Ebere Eze. The QPR man has been a huge star at Championship level, and only recently turned 22. Like Coutinho, he could be an option as a wide forward or as a 10, where Dele Alli also remains an option depending on how Mourinho plans to structure his team. However, who knows how high his ceiling could be?
Spurs lineup for 2020/21 season with dream signings: Lloris; Aarons, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Tanganga; Dier, Lo Celso, Hojbjerg; Son, Kane, Bale/Coutinho/Eze.
