Brazil's No.9 has the quality and heart to make Harry Kane's position his own – but he can't fire Spurs back into the top four on his own
The 2022-23 campaign was nothing short of a disaster for Tottenham. They made their best start to a top-flight season in 59 years under Antonio Conte, picking up 23 point from their first 10 games, but spectacularly imploded thereafter.
By March, Spurs were out of the race for Champions League qualification and destined to extend their trophy drought to 15 years, and Conte was sacked after publicly questioning the commitment of his players. The Italian's assistant, Cristian Stellini, took charge on an interim basis, only to also face the axe after an embarrassing 6-1 defeat to Newcastle at St James' Park.
It was pure chaos. Spurs have been in decline since Mauricio Pochettino's exit in 2019, but the collective standards slipped to unacceptable levels as they plummeted to eighth in the Premier League. The only man that could hold his head up high by the end of the season was Harry Kane.
The England striker somehow managed to score 30 goals, despite the lack of quality around him, moving to within just 47 of Alan Shearer's all-time Premier League record. Kane deserves better, and he'll certainly be getting that after completing his big-money move to Bayern Munich. Spurs, meanwhile, face the almost impossible task of replacing his goals, leadership and all-round quality.
It's not all doom and gloom, though. Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is now at the helm, and he's made an excellent first impression with his no nonsense approach. He's also added a number of new players to his squad this summer, most noticeably England midfielder James Maddison.
The Australian is optimistic that he can end the club's long wait for silverware and get them competing for a place in the top-four again, and after a productive pre-season and some smart business, Spurs might just be on the brink of a resurgence even without Kane. But what does their strongest line-up look like now?
GettyGK: Guglielmo Vicario
Hugo Lloris has been Tottenham's No.1 for the best part of the last decade, but he was one of the worst goalkeepers in the Premier League last term. The Frenchman, who is still officially the club captain, has been given permission to push through a transfer, and Spurs have already signed his replacement.
Vicario joined from Empoli in a £17 million ($22m) deal at the end of June, and has been a regular between the sticks for Postecoglou's side in pre-season. The Italy international is an excellent shot-stopper who kicks off attacks with his progressive passing – and at just 26 he still has plenty of room for improvement.
Lloris is already a relic of the past in the eyes of Spurs supporters, but Vicario is very much the future.
AdvertisementGettyRB: Emerson Royal
Its no secret that Emerson has struggled to live up to expectations since his £26m ($33m) move to Spurs from Barcelona in September 2021. However, the Brazilian has been given a clean slate after Postecoglou's appointment, and has impressed throughout pre-season as an inverted full-back.
January signing Pedro Porro is also vying for the right-back spot in the team, and offers more of an attacking threat than Emerson. But the former Barca man is far stronger defensively, which is why he should get the nod at the start of the season.
Spurs will need a solid foundation at the back in order for their more adventurous attacking set-up to work, and Emerson has proven that he deserves a second chance.
GettyCB: Cristian Romero
Spurs players have often been accused of lacking fight and passion over the years, but no one could aim that criticism at Romero, who has added much-needed grit to the squad since his move from Atalanta two years ago.
The Argentine World Cup winner is a proactive, front-footed defender with a ferocious competitive streak that makes him a constant nuisance for opposition attackers. He's also one of the few natural leaders in the Tottenham dressing room and his continued presence will be vital to their chances of enjoying a strong campaign.
GettyCB: Micky van de Ven
Tottenham signed Wolfsburg centre-back Mickey van de Ven in a £43m ($55m) deal, having reportedly seen off competition from Liverpool – and the Netherlands U21 international could prove to be one of the signings of the summer.
The 22-year-old is surprisingly nimble and quick with the ball at his feet for a big man, and excels when driving out of defence, which has seen him compared to fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk.
Van de Ven looks ideally suited to the Premier League and will compliment Romero perfectly in the heart of the Spurs defence if he can replicate the form he showed on a consistent basis in Germany.