The summer transfer window is often greeted with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, especially for clubs that have exceeded expectations.
On the one hand, there is the enticing possibility that a group of new signings can cement the team’s new status and take them to a higher level. The flip side is the risk the side might lose the very players that got them there in the first place, as bigger outfits seek to poach their brightest talents.
Tottenham fans are familiar with the issue, of course. In 2011 and 2012 it was Luka Modric as Chelsea and then Real Madrid showed their interest. The summer of 2013 was dominated by stories about Gareth Bale’s future before the Welshman eventually joined Modric at the Bernabeu. Last year, there were fears Hugo Lloris might move to Manchester United amid doubts over David De Gea’s future.
Some Spurs supporters could be forgiven for feeling nervous again this time. After all, the team has secured their highest ever Premier League finish, third, and fought for the title until the final four games of the campaign. Surely that will result in unwanted interest from wealthier rivals, both in England and on the continent?
It may well do, and there is a long way to go until the window closes on Aug. 31. It would surprising if Harry Kane’s name does not feature prominently in the gossip columns at some stage, particularly if he shines for England at Euro 2016 — and a number of Spurs’ other internationals could also enhance their reputations even further in France.
Yet as the rumour mill warms up once again, there seem to be fewer concerns around White Hart Lane; a confidence that Spurs have exceeded expectations to such an extent that key men will want to stay and see how far they go together, rather than using the club’s ascent as a platform to try to jump ship.
It would be naive to ignore that money talks when it comes to the bids that may come in and the players’ wages. Chairman Daniel Levy might consider exorbitant offers from other clubs, given Spurs are building a new £400 million stadium, and certain teams will be able to offer better wages than Tottenham.
On the other hand, with the extra income that will arrive from the Champions League and the Premier League’s new £5.13 billion TV deal, Levy may be able to raise the ceiling in the club’s wage structure to better reward Spurs’ top performers. Those financial boosts should mean the club do not need to sell this summer.
The fans can justifiably hope that none of Pochettino’s key men will be banging on the exit door asking to leave anyway. The thirst for Champions League football can be quenched at White Hart Lane next season and there has been a strong message from the players that there is a great atmosphere in the dressing room, that they genuinely enjoy being around each other and that they feel they can continue improving and challenging for the title together.
Meanwhile, a number of Tottenham’s Premier League rivals are entering transitional periods. Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United — who all finished below Spurs last season — are currently undergoing managerial changes and potentially preparing overhauls of their squads, while two of them have failed to qualify for the Champions League for 2016-17. None of them look like an obvious upwards move at the moment.
Pochettino stated in April that his men “want success here in the future all together because their morale is great,” and added: “Our supporters need to enjoy it, not be worried about the future.”
The Argentine promptly agreed a two-year contract extension and the hope — even the expectation — is that his most valued stars will remain just as committed to Tottenham and that this summer’s transfer window will be one of progress, without any major losses.
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