Europa League football will boost Jose Mourinho’s transfer budget.
However, if Arsenal win the FA Cup, Tottenham face a play-off on September 17 to be sure of a place in the group stage, which could leave their big business on ice until after the season begins on September 12.
Spurs estimate the pandemic has caused a £200million hit to revenues while they continue to repay debts on their £1.2billion stadium. A £175m loan has helped but is not intended to be spent on transfers.
Therefore, free transfers, loans and part-exchanges are all serious possibilities as Mourinho bids to build a “more balanced” squad.
The manager, who has promised “small changes”, should be allowed to spend any money he brings in, and defenders Danny Rose, Kyle Walker-Peters, Juan Foyth and Serge Aurier could be sold. Oliver Skipp, Troy Parrott and possibly Ryan Sessegnon could go on loan but the club are reluctant to lose club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele.
Spurs are confident of signing Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and have enquired about Beijing Guoan’s Kim-min Jae.
Mourinho is also in the market for a right-back and an understudy to striker Harry Kane.
Atalanta full-back Timothy Castagne has said he would not turn down a move, while Spurs admire Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson and David Brooks.
