£70m star indicators & no Son

There isn’t any escaping from it: this season has been an entire catastrophe for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s aspect are 14th within the Premier League, out of the FA Cup, and whereas they’ve an opportunity of successful the Europa League, it feels extremely slim.

Furthermore, whereas the Australian has needed to take care of a mountain of accidents this 12 months, he had what was nearly a full-strength workforce on Sunday and nonetheless misplaced away to Fulham.

So, following their nineteenth loss in all competitions over the weekend, it wasn’t a large shock to see a complete host of managers linked with the Lilywhites’ job, together with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.

The Spaniard has performed a marvellous job on the south coast, however what would his dream Spurs lineup appear like if he was appointed in the summertime and allowed to herald some new signings?

1

GK – Guglielmo Vicario

Maybe a few months in the past, simply after Antonín Kinský’s spectacular debut in opposition to Liverpool, this spot would have not less than been up for debate.

Nevertheless, as time went on, the younger Czech shot-stopper made the type of errors you’d count on a younger goalkeeper to make, and since he returned from harm, Guglielmo Vicario has reminded everybody simply how good he will be.

The Italian is a superb shot-stopper, and whereas he can typically make the odd mistake, he is undoubtedly going to stay Spurs’ primary subsequent season, no matter who’s within the dugout.

2

RB – Djed Spence

The primary outfield participant within the lineup is without doubt one of the few who can come out of this season together with his head held excessive: Djed Spence.

Since he was given a correct probability to show his price in December, the “swashbuckling” right-back, as dubbed by Ian Wright, has been one of many Lilywhites’ greatest gamers.

Like Pedro Porro, the Englishman will be deadly in assault, however not like the Spaniard, he can be trusted to do the defensive aspect of the position and do it to a excessive normal as effectively.

3

CB – Marc Guéhi

Followers may not need to hear this, however based mostly on current studies, it appears to be like like there’s a actual probability that Cristian Romero may very well be on his option to Actual Madrid in the summer time.

Nevertheless, whereas the Argentine will surely be a loss, Iraola might probably exchange him with the unbelievable Marc Guéhi, who was the topic of a £70m bid from Spurs within the winter window.

The Englishman may not fairly have the pedigree of the World Cup winner, however regardless of being simply 24 years outdated, the 6 foot titan has already amassed 206 first-team appearances throughout his profession, with 145 of these coming for Palace, 59 with Swansea Metropolis and two with Chelsea.

Furthermore, he was an integral a part of the England aspect that reached the ultimate of the European Championships in the summertime, so he’s clearly somebody who thrives in high-pressure conditions, which may very well be simply what the Lilywhites want.

4

CB – Micky van de Ven

Alongside Guéhi would be the sensational Micky van de Ven, who, when match, is undoubtedly one among Tottenham’s most vital gamers.

The Dutch worldwide, who revered expertise scout Jacek Kulig described as “full & dominant”, is the proper defender for a workforce that need to play aggressive and expressive soccer, as his record-setting velocity means he can get again to cease counter-attacks when different centre-backs merely cannot.

Now, there are nonetheless severe query marks over his means to stay match, however you have to dwell in hope, proper?

5

LB – Future Udogie

Rounding out the defence is one other participant who has battled with accidents, Future Udogie.

It could be honest to say that the Italian worldwide has not had the most effective of campaigns this season, nevertheless it shouldn’t be forgotten simply how good he was in his first 12 months on the membership.

In 23/24, the Verona-born “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Travis Levison, made 30 appearances, by which he scored two objectives, offered three assists and have become the primary Tottenham participant ever to be nominated for the Premier League’s Younger Participant of the Season award.

Due to this fact, it might make sense for Iraola to offer him one other season to see how he fares in a brand new system, because the expertise there’s simple.

6

DM – Angel Gomes

Transferring into the midfield, the second new face within the lineup is that of LOSC Lille star Angel Gomes.

The Englishman’s contract with the French aspect expires this summer time, which means he’ll be out there at no cost, and Spurs have made no secret of their admiration for him.

It is easy to grasp why the North Londoners would need to signal the “particular” 24-year-old, as dubbed by former supervisor Jocelyn Gourvennec, as not solely can he assist mop up opposition assaults on the base of midfield, however he can begin his personal due to his sensible passing vary and spectacular ball management.

For instance, FBref has positioned him within the prime 1% of midfielders in Europe’s prime 5 leagues for anticipated assisted objectives and penalty kicks gained, the highest 3% for goal-creating actions from take-ons, the highest 5% for passes into the penalty space and the highest 8% for key passes, all per 90.

7

CM – James Maddison

Slotting in simply forward of Gomes will probably be fellow Englishman James Maddison.

The previous Leicester Metropolis star will be an extremely irritating participant at instances, somebody who can fade out of video games, however when he is on tune, the midfielder is undoubtedly some of the artistic and harmful within the Premier League.

For instance, in simply 38 appearances this season, the Coventry-born star has scored 11 objectives and offered seven assists, which comes out to a mean of a purpose involvement each 2.11 video games.

8

CM – Dejan Kulusevski

Rounding out the midfield will probably be arguably Tottenham’s greatest participant, Dejan Kulusevski.

Initially signed as a winger, the “world-class” Swede, as dubbed by Kulig, has been in scintillating type this season, a lot of which he has spent in the course of the park.

In all, the previous Juventus star has scored ten objectives and offered ten assists in 42 appearances for the Lilywhites this 12 months, which comes out to an excellent common of a purpose involvement each 2.1 video games.

9

RW – Antoine Semenyo

Beginning at right-wing, it may very well be one among Iraola’s star males this season: Antoine Semenyo.

The “unplayable” Bournemouth winger, as dubbed by journalist Ed Aarons, has been in unbelievable type this season, racking up a tally of 9 objectives and 5 assists in simply 32 appearances for the Cherries.

Meaning the 25-year-old, whom analyst Ben Mattinson described as possessing “highly effective ambipedal ball putting,” is averaging a purpose involvement each 2.28 video games for a workforce exterior the normal ‘large six.’

10

ST – Dominic Solanke

Beginning up prime would be the membership’s present document signing: Dominic Solanke.

Whereas the previous Bournemouth man has needed to endure a while out as a consequence of harm this season, he is regarded nice when he is been on the pitch.

For instance, in 33 appearances, the Basingstoke-born monster has scored 11 objectives and offered eight assists, which comes out to a mean of a purpose involvement each 1.73 video games and demonstrates that he is greater than only a purpose menace.

11

LW – Mathys Tel

Final however not least, it will be the promising Mathys Tel who begins out on the left subsequent season, rather than membership captain Son Heung-min.

Now, this may require the activation of the £45m possibility within the Frenchman’s mortgage deal, and in truth, he hasn’t precisely blown folks away to date.

Nevertheless, that possibility was positioned within the preliminary deal as a result of the membership see him as a long-term possibility and somebody with luggage and luggage of potential, which based mostly on his type final season, actually appears to be the case.

For instance, in 41 first-team appearances, totalling simply 1406 minutes, the “mind-blowing” ahead, as dubbed by Kulig, scored ten objectives and offered six assists, which comes out to a mean of a purpose involvement each 2.56 video games, or extra impressively, each 87.87 minutes.

Furthermore, not like Son, Tel is a participant that Iraola might proceed to construct a workforce round for years to come back.

Iraola’s dream Spurs XI for 2025/26 in full: Guglielmo Vicario; Djed Spence, Marc Guehi, Micky Van de Ven, Future Udogie; Angel Gomes, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski; Antoine Semenyo, Dominic Solanke, Mathys Tel

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