Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a promising start to life under Ange Postecoglou with two transfer windows already under his belt.
The Australian has already brought in a host of new faces at Hotspur Way as he looks to put his own stamp on the squad he inherited.
Ange Postecoglou was able to bring in Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner over the January transfer window and has Lucas Bergvall to come in over the summer.
Tottenham fans will surely be pleased with the business done to date since the Australian’s appointment. The summer transfer window saw the likes of Micky van de Ven, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario also land in north London.
A new data-led recruitment system seems to be paying off for the Lilywhites with the large majority of their signings under Postecoglou proving to be pivotal players in the starting XI.
There may be a lot for the Spurs hierarchy to celebrate on the back of the last two transfer windows, but it is apparent work is already going on behind the scenes ahead of the summer market.
The Spurs News has been speaking exclusively to HITC Football’s Graeme Bailey to get the latest on interest in Albert Gudmundsson, Teun Koopmeiners, Ederson and the future of Postecoglou.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham future
Liverpool are set to lose Jurgen Klopp over the summer and Manchester United could well look to move on from Erik ten Hag.
Both clubs have already been linked with a potential move for Postecoglou over the coming months, Bailey has provided the latest on his future in N17.
He said: “He’s someone who works as a head coach not a manager which is very much the trend now. I don’t think he’s top of United’s list, we know that, but is he going to be coming up in conversations? Of course he is.
“If Liverpool don’t get Xabi Alonso [prior to his announcement], I think that’s a fascinating example. If they don’t get him, who would fit that style of play? Ange would tick quite a few boxes there. It’s just natural, though.”
Tottenham’s interest in Albert Gudmundsson
One of the main names to have been linked with a potential move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer in the Genoa forward.
However, Bailey has claimed the 26-year-old is a player who is not necessarily at the top of Tottenham’s list going into the summer window.
He said: “I think Gudmundsson is just someone on the radar, from what I’m understanding. He’s a good player, but I think with Spurs now, it’s a matter of quality over quantity.
“So yeah, they’re doing their work and anyone like Gudmundsson who’s in good form, they’re going to be doing their work on them. But yeah, I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s number one [target], doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t be because obviously you’ve got to look at the cost factors.
“It’s a bit like with Dragusin, they have that relationship with Genoa, but are you buying someone to be first choice? Which is difficult for Spurs now to even get into that first XI is tough, that’s a consideration for them too.”
Bailey also said former Celtic forward Jota is a player who cannot be ruled out for Spurs this summer, you can read the exclusive report here.
More than one forward could be signed
The future of Richarlison is a topic of discussion ahead of the summer with Bailey already claiming Spurs would consider offers on the Brazilian.
And it seems the club are open to more than one forward arriving this summer with the 26-year-old receiving interest from Saudi Arabia.
He said: “From what I’m being told, a ‘forward’ is very much on the agenda. Whether that be central, whether that be right. It may be more than one.
“It’s like the midfield situation. It also depends what the outs are as well.”
Teun Koopmeiners on the radar
Spurs are going into the summer having already been linked with a number of midfielders including Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.
But it seems Spurs could turn to Serie A for a midfielder who has already admitted he is keen to make the move to the Premier League this summer.
Bailey said: “He’s another one on the radar. Actually from our understanding, Spurs are one of the teams watching him in action this week [prior to his injury sidelining him vs Germany].
“He’s one a lot of Premier League clubs have been aware of for a long time. He’s been a very solid performer. Spurs are watching Atalanta – as a lot of the Premier League sides are – with Ederson and [Giorgio] Scalvini the centre-half who isn’t really in Spurs’ thinking at the moment.”
Ederson also of interest
Spurs have their eyes on two of Atalanta’s midfielders and are seemingly left with a decision of which one to take this summer.
Do they go for Koopmeiners or do they go for Ederson?
Bailey said: “It’s a tough one, which one do you take? From my understanding, I think Koopmeiners had a wonderful last month, Ederson before that was attracting a lot more attention because he could be a little bit cheaper – not much though.
“I can see them both in England this summer, to be honest.”
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg expected to move on
With a number of midfielders on the radar, there has to be some room and money made and that will likely see Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg move on.
He said: “Hojbjerg he will be going. He’s not going to be a free, it’s easier said than done getting rid of some of these players. But he does have interest. Fully expect him to go and Spurs will replace him.
“Hojbjerg will go and I think full-back is an area that Spurs are looking to improve.”