Tottenham Hotspur fans received a deadline-day boost when the club confirmed the signing of highly rated French winger Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.
The 19-year-old, often compared to Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe, reportedly turned down interest from multiple Premier League rivals to join Spurs, where he will compete with the likes of summer signing Dominic Solanke for a spot in the frontline.
How Tel will fare in north London remains to be seen, but even if he excels, several glaring issues still need addressing for Ange Postecoglou’s side. Much to everyone’s surprise, Spurs have been stuck in the bottom half this season, exposing key weaknesses across the squad.
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One of the biggest concerns is the lack of solidity in defensive midfield – a lingering problem since Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s departure to Marseille last year.
Injuries to Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have further highlighted the need for defensive reinforcements, as backup options Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin have struggled to fill the void.
A new, world-class goalkeeper should also be on the club’s radar, with Guglielmo Vicario’s inability to command his box at corners proving to be a major issue.
With all that in mind, here are five players we believe Tottenham should target in the summer.
1 Marc Guehi Crystal Palace
Due to a combination of injuries and a lack of quality, Tottenham’s biggest issue this season has been their defence. While Postecoglou’s side has been prolific in attack, they have struggled to keep goals out.
In an attempt to address the problem, Spurs made a surprise £70m bid for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi on deadline day, but their offer was swiftly rejected.
With competition expected in the summer, Tottenham should make every effort to secure his signature. Since joining Crystal Palace in 2021, Guehi has established himself as one of the Premier League’s top centre-backs.
He has also proven his ability on the biggest stage, delivering standout performances for England during their run to the Euro 2024 final.
2 Arda Guler Real Madrid
Despite being one of Europe’s most promising young talents, Arda Guler has become something of an outcast at Real Madrid, struggling to fully break into a forward line stacked with superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinícius Junior, Endrick and Brahim Diaz. Injuries haven’t helped his cause either, further limiting his opportunities.
Too gifted to waste away on the bench, Guler should seek a move where he can truly showcase his abilities, and Tottenham could be the perfect destination to give him that chance.
Often compared to the great Lionel Messi due to his elegant dribbling, lethal finishing and exquisite left foot, the Turkey international would be a fantastic addition to Spurs’ frontline – one with the potential to become a club icon in the years ahead.
The main obstacle is that Real Madrid have made it clear they have no intention of selling Guler, while the player himself is also understood to want to remain in the Spanish capital and fight for his place in Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded side.
However, things can change quickly in football. If the 19-year-old continues to struggle for regular game time, he may reconsider his options by the end of the year.
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Ask any Tottenham fan, and they’ll likely tell you that while Guglielmo Vicario has had a promising spell in north London, he doesn’t seem like a long-term solution as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
A player who could be, however, is Liverpool No 2 Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Republic of Ireland international has consistently impressed when called upon, most notably in the Champions League against Real Madrid, where he denied Kylian Mbappe from the penalty spot to help secure a 2-0 victory for the Reds.
Despite his talent, he has never been able to fully displace Alisson as Liverpool’s No 1, and he recently made it clear that he wants regular first-team football elsewhere.
With seven clean sheets in 14 appearances this season, Kelleher has already proven he belongs at a top Premier League club. Spurs should seize the opportunity to make him their long-term goalkeeper.
4 Milan Skriniar Fenerbahce/PSG
While a fully fit trio of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and potentially Marc Guehi should, in theory, provide enough defensive stability for Spurs next season, this campaign has shown that relying on limited depth is a gamble they can’t afford to take.
Additional cover is essential, even if only to ensure Postecoglou can avoid relying on Radu Dragusin.
A viable and high-quality option could be Slovakian defender Milan Skriniar, who is currently on loan at Fenerbahce from Paris Saint-Germain. He is not expected to remain in Turkey beyond this season, and reports suggest he will be sold by PSG in the summer – probably on the cheap.
At 29, he still has plenty left to offer at the top level, and his strong passing ability would make him a strong fit for Spurs’ system.
5 Ederson Atalanta
Spurs have invested heavily in their search for a dynamic, all-action holding midfielder in recent years – spending significant sums on Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele, among others.
Yet, none have truly lived up to expectations, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – now at Marseille – arguably coming the closest to success.
Atalanta’s Ederson could finally be the player to bring that long-running search to an end.
Back in January, South American football expert Tim Vickery described Ederson as a “strong, well-built central midfielder”.
“Strong on the ball, versatile, box-to-box. Strong personality as well,” Vickery said to Sky Sports of the Brazilian, who has been capped twice by his country.
Vickery added: “The first time I remember him was his professional debut, really. He was thrown in the deep end in a big team called Cruzeiro, who were really on the slide. They were relegated in dreadful form and even in this bad context, he stood out, so a lot of virtues.”
Atalanta are reportedly willing to listen to bids in excess of £42m in the summer, which would be a bargain for a player of his quality.