Tottenham season preview: Best bets as no signings & new stadium could see Spurs struggle
Spurs are in survival mode this season as the move to a new stadium and no new signings means they're up against it to stay in the top four.
Mauricio Pochettino urged Tottenham to 'be brave' in the transfer market at the end of last season, but after exactly zero new signings he faces an uphill battle to keep them in the top four.
Daniel Levy may yet pull a rabbit out of his transfer hat before the deadline, but it's a case of going with what they've got at Tottenham - although what they've got is a hugely talented young squad.
After a number of near misses though, this could be a defining season at Spurs, but as Liverpool have been splashing the cash to push on to the next level, Tottenham have either decided to, or been forced to, stay out of the transfer market.
Levy did do some business within his own set-up - as he tied the Argentinian manager down to a new five-year deal, rebuffing interest from Real Madrid.
He then followed it up with a bumper salary cap-breaking new contract for Harry Kane, with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen also expected to sign on soon.
Tottenham bets for 2018/19 (odds via Sky Bet)
- 7/1 - To win their opening three Premier League games
- 21/10 - Kane to score 30+ Premier League goals
- 11/4 - Kane, Eriksen, Kane & Son to score 10+ PL goals
- 2/1 - Top four finish & West Ham bottom half finish
Click here for these and other Tottenham season RequestABets frm Sky Bet
Spurs face World Cup fatigue factor
But as the summer went on, it was events 1,500 miles away at the World Cup in Russia that could yet have the biggest impact on how Spurs fare this season.
As a marker to the quality of the squad that Pochettino has assembled in north London, there were nine Spurs players involved in the entirety of the World Cup, with five England players, three Belgians and Hugh Lloris of France in Russia until the end.
And what sort of effect that will have is an intriguing prospect.
Premier League Golden Boot (Sky Bet odds)
Initially, it will throw Pochettino's pre-season plans into disarray as the nine players are unlikely to return to the club much before their last friendly with Girona on August 4 and how refreshed they will be when the new season kicks off a week later remains to be seen.
But the possible benefits of a successful summer for those players are a more appealing prospect, particularly for the five England players that caught the imagination of the country.
Kane, Kieran Trippier, Alli, Eric Dier and Danny Rose returned from Russia heroes and that experience of a successful tournament could help them kick on domestically.
Can Kane continue to carry Spurs hopes?
Not that Kane has much improving to do, having hit 25, 29 and 30 goals in his last three Premier League seasons and he will again be the favourite for the Golden Boot.
In terms of those risks Pochettino asked Levy to take, they have yet to materialise in the transfer market at least.
With the window shutting 48 hours before the campaign starts, Spurs, as has become tradition, look set to have to do their business late on.
They will need some additional firepower to supplement Kane, another centre-back, if, as expected, Toby Alderweireld leaves, while Rose and midfielder Mousa Dembele have also been told they can move on, so replacements might need to be found for them.
Another factor for Spurs to contend with is their move into their new stadium, which will happen in September after a one-off Wembley return and a run of away games.
How they adapt to their new surroundings, and whether they can avoid a bumpy settling in period, will be one of the key factors in how their season pans out.
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