Three areas Tottenham must improve to challenge for the title next season

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Signings

Aside from the extended silverware drought, the greatest disappointment of Spurs’ 16/17 season was their summer signings. The exception to their transfer failings was Victor Wanyama who was brought in from Southampton for around £12 million – a bargain for a proven Premier League player able to secure a starting birth for a top side. The Kenyan defensive midfielder has certainly improved his team, becoming one of the most consistent selections with 35 appearances.

However, other signings consisted of Moussa Sissoko, Vincent Janssen and Georges-Kevin N’koudou.

Sissoko, perhaps the most bizarre transfer any side made last summer, cost Spurs around £30 million from a relegated Newcastle United.

If the cost wasn’t enough to put them off, his performances should have been. A few good games aside, the Frenchman generally looked lethargic and uninterested as his side were demoted to the Championship, often appearing to play only for a transfer.

Pochettino took the bullet and has rewarded his most expensive signing with 1290 minutes (all comps), for a return of zero goals and four assists.

Bringing in Janssen made much more sense at the time, despite being a gamble due to the hit and miss record of ex-Eredivisie strikers. The other issue with the transfer was that even when the Dutchman was prolific, he offered little different to Harry Kane.

Although his main purpose was undoubtedly for cover, it makes more sense to fill the squad with players who can perform in varying or even multiple roles, an area in which Spurs excel in other positions.

Finally, the complete waste of time that was bringing in N’koudou. The winger looked like a useful squad player, and probably still could be, but has played just 323 minutes, begging the question of why did Pochettino buy him?

For his relatively small fee of £9 million, it is not the biggest issue, yet it raises doubts over Spurs’ transfer policy and it remains to be seen if their much-praised manager has the ability to improve the current side by adding personnel.

His struggle in doing so may be seen as a sign of Tottenham’s quality, yet, until they are champions, there will be room to improve.

Featured image: all rights reserved by Matt Donovan