Spurs Quickly Going About Business to Bolster Problem Positions

After what seemed an eternity, Tottenham at long last confirmed the signing of Vincent Janssen on Tuesday morning. The Dutchman had previously spoken of his intention to move to White Hart Lane, yet negotiations between the north London side and AZ Alkmaar were a long drawn out affair. Nevertheless, Janssen is the first striker Spurs have signed since Roberto Soldado made the move from Spain to London in 2013. All those associated with the club will hope the 22-year-old can have a more significant impact in the capital than Soldado during his two years at Spurs. 

There are promising signs to suggest that Janssen can make the adequate jump between Eredivisie and Premier League. Granted, the path between the two leagues is well trodden and somewhat forgettable, but given the recruitment policy implemented by Mauricio Pochettino and head of recruitment Paul Mitchell; they will hope Janssen can be an exception to the rule and transfer his fine form from the Netherlands to England, similar to Luis Suarez who ended the 2009/10 campaign as the Eredivisie's top scorer with 35 goals before enjoying goalscoring success for Liverpool. As has been well documented, Janssen scored more goals (27) than any other player in the Eredivisie last season. 

However, as Dutch football experts will testify, Janssen is a striker whose game is similar to that of Harry Kane. The England international is capable of drifting to the wings in order to run the channels, but - as both strikers goal return last season suggests - are lethal in and around the 18-yard box. Not only that, but the pair endured slow starts to the campaign, only to flourish and finish top scorer in their respective league last term. The similarities are striking and it’s little shock Spurs fought hard to ward off interest from European rivals to secure Janssen. 

Janssen’s average of 4.5 shots per game was second only to Hakim Ziyech (4.9) in the Eredivisie last season, while Kane ranked second (4.2) in that regard in the Premier League. The duo are confident in their ability to go for goal and it evidently has the desired effect given their respective goal returns last term. Importantly, though, is that Janssen’s arrival means Kane has some solid competition for a regular starting berth. 

The England international was Pochettino’s only out and out striker last season and, as the campaign came to a head, it showed. While it hardly deterred Kane in his pursuit of goal, that he started all 38 league games shows that Spurs required another striker to help ease the goalscoring burden on the 22-year-old Englishman. It clearly had an impact on Kane’s performances at Euro 2016. Only a handful of players had more shots without scoring than the Spurs star (13), who appeared fatigued in France. 

Given their comparative styles of play, though, Pochettino won’t have to make drastic alterations to his team and the way Spurs set up should Janssen be asked to start in Kane’s absence. With the latter expected to be handed a lengthy rest after a grueling campaign and testing Euro 2016, the former has the potential to make a seamless transition into the starting XI, with Janssen widely tipped to come straight into the side for the opening day meeting with Everton, thus allowing Kane sufficient time to rest up ahead of an important campaign. 

Of course, Janssen’s arrival isn’t the only problem position bolstered following a disappointing end to the season. His signing is the second Spurs have made this summer, with the acquisition of Victor Wanyama strengthening the midfield. The absence of Mousa Dembele at the tailend of the campaign hit Spurs hard, with the Belgian’s influence clear for all to see. Spurs lost just one game the Belgian started in the Premier League last season, and that was a fixture that he started on the wing. However, with the 28-year-old suspended for the opening four games of the season, reinforcements were required. 

Beyond Dembele and Eric Dier, Pochettino’s quality midfield options are thin on the ground. Nabil Bentaleb was unlucky due to injury and it’s feasible to suggest the Algerian will be handed more minutes on the back of a full pre-season programme. In Ryan Mason and Tom Carroll, meanwhile, Spurs have two players, who while are willing to give their all for the team, are not of the required standard to start week in, week out for a side aiming for regular Champions League football. 

Spurs won only two of the 12 league games Mason and Carroll started between them last term, with the capture of Wanyama somewhat vital in that regard. The Kenyan and Pochettino were only together for one full season at St. Mary’s, but the Spurs boss is clearly a fan of the tough tackling 25-year-old having tried to sign him last summer. Indeed, the defensive solidity improves significantly with Wanyama in the side, with an average of 3.4 tackles per 90 minutes one of the better returns of those to make 20 or more Premier League appearances last season. 

His top flight and Champions League experience is also a bonus to the side and while his ill-discipline may be a concern to some, it’s worth noting that Wanyama was not red carded during his time under Pochettino in England’s top tier, despite receiving seven yellow cards over the time. An average of 2.5 fouls per 90 minutes during his only season to date under Pochettino certainly makes for grim reading - only Jozy Altidore (2.6) committed more in the 2013/14 season of players to make 20 or more Premier League appearances. 

However, Spurs committed the fourth most fouls per game (11.9) in the Premier League last season, with the club adopting a measure of control to their tenacious approach. Spurs received the third most yellow cards (72) in England’s top tier last term, yet were one of two Premier League teams to not have a player red carded over the campaign. While Wanyama won’t play every game for Spurs - Dier and Dembele are likely to remain Pochettino’s first choice midfield pairing - he significantly improves the Argentine’s options in the middle of the park. 

After being leapfrogged into second place by rivals Arsenal on the final day of the season, the Spurs squad needed improving and they have quickly gone about making additions to bolster the midfield and attack. While the arrivals of Janssen and Wanyama are unlikely to be the club’s only ventures into the transfer market, their respective signings will improve Spurs’ chances of, at the very least, consolidating a place in the Champions League once more next season.

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