Do Spurs have the squad depth for another top four tilt?

After decades outside of the European elite, Tottenham Hotspur have maintained a run of finishing in the top four places for Champions League qualification since 2016. Having finished in the top three three times in four seasons – once as a runner-up – Spurs fans could be forgiven for thinking that another top four finish is a foregone conclusion in 2019/20. Boss, Mauricio Pochettino’s stock has never been as high as a football manager; such is the high esteem in which he is held by the Spurs faithful.

In May, Pochettino also led Spurs to their first major European final since 1984, eventually falling to English rivals, Liverpool. The team successfully moved into its brand-new stadium – built in the vicinity of White Hart Lane – could life be any better? A little squad depth wouldn’t go amiss. Unfortunately, Spurs’ investment in their new home has meant transfer funds have been limited to say the least. This summer, the team have spent almost £100m in squad strengthening, bagging players with a long-term future at the club such as Ryan Sessegnon and midfield powerhouse, Tanguy Ndombele; but is that enough?

Injuries to Kane or Son would be disastrous for Spurs

Photo by enviro warrior, CC BY-SA 2.0

Harry Kane remains indispensable to the Spurs frontline

Some might say that the lack of depth in attack could really cost Tottenham dear. So heavily reliant are they on captain and talisman, Harry Kane and South Korean star, Son Heung-min. Kane’s natural finishing ability and Son’s unrivalled work-rate make for an intoxicating partnership, both at Premier League and Champions League level. When you look for any further attacking options beyond this pair though, it becomes somewhat alarming. There’s no other senior forward available to deputise. Of course, the likes of Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura could probably operate as makeshift frontmen in an emergency, but should Spurs have to rely on midfielders to bail them out in the event of injury to Kane or Son?

With only two senior strikers in the Spurs squad, it’s unsurprising that Pochettino generally adopts a lone striker system, which helps keep Kane and Son as fresh as possible. Should a Champions League side have to rely on just two front men for an entire season? When you consider Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal have twice as many attackers to choose from in their senior squad, it suggests that Pochettino could be left red-faced in the event of a lengthy injury lay-off.

Pundits are still in awe of Tottenham’s midfield

Despite Spurs’ wafer-thin attacking options, the leading sportsbooks suggest that Spurs are still third favourites for a top four finish. Although Arsenal are hot on their heels and have seen their price come in a little, after a valiant, second half fightback in the North London derby. Tottenham’s favouritism with the bookies is almost certainly due to their embarrassment of riches in midfield. When you consider that Dele Alli has so far struggled to get game time for the first team in 2019-20, it’s clear to see that Spurs are well-stocked for midfield enforcers and playmakers alike. In fact, you could go as far as to say Spurs are capable of fielding two Champions League quality midfields.

There’s another question mark over the depth of Spurs’ goalkeeping options, however. French stopper, Hugo Lloris is a star man for Tottenham, but were he to get injured Spurs would currently be reliant on Argentine, Paulo Gazzaniga. The 27-year-old has only played 70+ first team games in his career, 20 of which were made at League One strugglers, Gillingham.

So, while there are reasons to be cheerful about Tottenham’s style of play, which merits their reputation as a top European club once again, their squad depth does little to underpin that status. Hopefully, once the club has bedded into its new stadium, chairman Daniel Levy will consider loosening the purse strings and giving the team’s best manager in the club’s modern-day history the wherewithal to build a squad capable of battling on multiple fronts each season.