After a 2-3 win at Aston Villa, Tottenham is currently in fifth place in the Premier League with only 1 point less than Chelsea. Liverpool, Man City and Leicester are almost sure they will play Champions League football next season but the 4th spot is currently is still open. During the January transfer window, Spurs strengthened the team with Giovani Lo Celso from Real Betis as a replacement for Eriksen, but Mourinho will certainly be looking to bring in a few more players during the next summer transfer window. Let’s have a look at 5 contenders to join Tottenham after the current season.
Timo Werner
The RB Leipzig striker has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs including Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham. All three teams are reportedly keen to activate the striker’s £50million release clause as they strengthen their attacking options at the end of the season. Werner has scored 20 goals in 22 Bundesliga appearances this season, one goal every 94 minutes. The Germany international is only 23 years old and could still improve over the coming years. During the January transfer window, no move materialized but the striker will once again be on the radar of several Premier League clubs next summer.
Nick Pope
At 36, Michel Vorm is not a viable replacement for Lloris anymore and Tottenham will need to start looking for a new stand-in for the France international. Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a move for Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope who could then compete with Lloris. Burnley would likely be open to selling the 26-year old as the club currently have two other England international goalkeepers in the squad with Joe Hart and Heaton likely to be ahead of Pope in the pecking order.
Ricardo Pereira
Tottenham tried to acquire Leicester player Ricardo Pereira during the January transfer window but, the Portugal international decided to stay put. Jose Mourinho aims to solve his right-back problem with Serge Aurier failing to impress in north London and sees his fellow countryman as the perfect alternative. Tottenham will have to move fast though as it’s not just the London club who are trying to get the right-back. Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are all being linked with the 26-year-old.
Ryan Fraser
The Scotsman is out of contract next summer and Tottenham could buy the left-winger as a free agent. The 25-year old has rejected a new contract last year and there are no plans for further extension talks, so he is certainly leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season. The Scotland international has impressed in the Premier League last seasons after having been on a loan spell with Ipswich till 2016. Fraser is a good dribbler and has the pace to hurt many back defenders, though the winger could score more goals and give more assists.
Nathan Aké
Reportedly, Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho is eager to sign Bournemouth central defender Nathan Ake in the summer transfer window. According to the Daily Express, Tottenham is planning to place a bid of around £40million for the Dutchman who signed for Bournemouth in 2017. Tottenham is not the only club interested in signing the 24-year old as Arsenal and Chelsea are also keen on acquiring the talented young player. With Jan Vertonghen’s contract finishing this summer, the Tottenham defense could use some fresh blood in the center of the defense. Even if the Belgium international commits to Spurs for a few more years, 30 year old Toby Alderweireld and 32 year old Vertonghen are both at the back ends of their careers and will need to be replaced soon.