Five new signings; Tottenham's 2022/23 back-up XI is seriously impressive

06/14/2022 01:00 PM

Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images On February 9th, as Tottenham Hotspur suffered another Champions League set-back during a 3-2 home defeat to Southampton, former striker Peter Crouch left no one in any doubt as to what he thought the problem was. What’s more, it was a criticism shared by many of the observers during that acrimonious night in North London four months ago. “The squad has always been the issue. They still need to strengthen it,” Crouch told BT Sport.  “I think the manager (Antonio Conte) would have liked to bring in more players. Other players they have aren’t performing either. And they haven’t been performing for a long time.”  Just a couple of weeks earlier, Harry Kane stepped off the bench to spare Spurs’ blushes during an FA Cup third-round clash with third-tier strugglers Morecambe. And Tottenham’s form in the UEFA Conference League – as the disparity between Nuno Espirito Santo’s first-choice XI and his back-up one was laid bare – only served to further back up Crouch’s point.  The issue was not just one of quantity, or quality, but both. BALE TO NEWCASTLE?! | Newcastle United 22/23 POTENTIAL XI WITH NEW TRANSFERSBridTV10431BALE TO NEWCASTLE?! | Newcastle United 22/23 POTENTIAL XI WITH NEW TRANSFERS10322381032238center13872 So it’s a testament to both Conte and managing director Fabio Paratici, then, that Tottenham’s Achilles heel is now starting to look like a strength. Pierluigi Gollini, Japhet Tanganga, Joe Rodon, Tanguy Ndombele, Gio Lo Celso, Dele Alli, Bryan Gil and Harry Winks all started in that most unconvincing of cup triumphs over Morecambe. By the time September rolls around, all of the aforementioned octet may have said their goodbyes.  Big changes at Tottenham Hotspur In Fraser Forster, Tottenham have already brought in a proven, experienced goalkeeper to succeed the unconvincing Gollini. Forster, joining on a two-year deal, was arguably Southampton’s best performer during the final few months of 2021/22, one outstanding display in a narrow win over Arsenal sticking in the mind.  The impending arrivals of Djed Spence and Yves Bissouma – from Middlesbrough and Brighton respectively – could leave Matt Doherty (much-improved since the turn of the year) and Conte favourite Oliver Skipp as reliable back-ups. Ben Davies, another who has taken his game to a new level completely under Conte, will provide committed and consistent cover at both left-wing back and left-centre-half. And, assuming free-agent Ivan Perisic will play as a wing-back – like he did to great effect for Inter Milan last term – that should see Owen Wijndal provide high-quality support. Per FootMercato, Tottenham have entered talks to sign AZ Alkmaar’s Dutch international. Wijndal is an excellent attacking left-back who dovetails beautifully with technically gifted forwards like Harry Kane and Dejan Kuluseski.  Photo by ANP via Getty Images Bissouma and Spence but who else? Wijndal will not break the bank and nor should Illya Zabarnyi. The Ukranian centre-half, who can play on the left or the right, is just 19. But he already looks like a player capable of competing for a first-team place in North London. “Spurs are really closely looking Zabarnyi,” Alisdair Gold says on his YouTube channel. “He’s very highly-rated. He’s one that a few clubs are looking at as a big potential star. 19-year-old, right-footed but can play on either side of defence. “He did sign a new long-term deal with Dynamo Kyiv last October; five-year deal. However, obviously, things are so unknown right now in what’s happening in Ukraine.” Assuming the effervescent Bissouma and the elegant Bentancur will be Tottenham’s first-choice midfield two, Hojbjerg and Skipp could spend much of next season on the sidelines, a sign of the club’s new-found competition for places. Meanwhile, Lucas Moura, while frustrating, remains an excellent player to have around. He was often the club’s most impressive performer in European competition under Jose Mourinho.  What’s more, Lucas insists he is ‘90 per cent’ certain to stay despite interest from Sao Paulo.  Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images A new striker too? Once again, finding competition for the seemingly irreplaceable Harry Kane will prove easier said than done. Though, according to the Stuttgarter Nachricthen, Spurs are at the front of the queue for Sasa Kalajdzic. The report says they are now stepping up their pursuit of the £21 million-rated Austrian colossus.   An injection of £150 million of transfer funds on behalf of Spurs’ owners, ENIC Sports Inc, frees up the purse strings substantially. Put together, Bissouma, Spence, Forster, Perisic, Wijndal, Zabarnyi and Kalajdzic should cost some way less than £100 million, leaving money spare to spend on a top-class left-sided centre-half a la Pau Torres. Further funds could be raised via the sales of Steven Bergwijn, Lo Celso, Ndombele, Winks and co. Rodon is also set to depart while Bryan Gil also faces an uncertain future.  A flurry of exciting signings are no guarantee of success of course. Spurs fans found that out the hard way back in 2013. But Conte and co will not be able to blame a lack of depth if things don’t go to plan next season.  Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images The post Five new signings; Tottenham's 2022/23 back-up XI is seriously impressive appeared first on HITC.