Here we take a look at what the Tottenham squad could look like against Brentford on the opening weekend following some further transfer signings for Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham’s squad will have a new look about it going into the 2023/24 Premier League campaign following the club’s business in the transfer market. Moving early to tie up permanent deals for Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison, Daniel Levy still has plenty more to sort out for new boss Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs cannot afford to stand still in the transfer market and more transfer incomings must happen, ideally ahead of the team departing for their pre-season tour. It is also vitally important that outgoings also take place as a number of players currently at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium need to move on for new challenges elsewhere.
Once Tottenham have played their four pre-season games, they will travel across the capital to Brentford on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Yet to taste victory at the Gtech Community Stadium in their previous two visits, it is a tough start to life in England for Postecoglou but it is certainly a winnable game.
So what exactly could the Australian’s 20-man matchday squad look like when they take on Thomas Frank’s men? football.london takes a look at what needs to happen in N17 before Sunday, August 13 to ensure Postecoglou has the perfect squad for the contest.
The game at Brentford will very likely see Vicario make his Premier League debut following his transfer from Italian side Empoli. With Hugo Lloris appearing on course to exit this summer, Fraser Forster will remain as No.2 and provide cover for the new shot-stopper.
Tottenham have plenty to do in defence over the coming weeks as they look to upgrade their options after shipping goals for fun last term. Edmond Tapsoba of Bayern Leverkusen is high on Tottenham’s list of potential centre-back signings after making quite the name for himself in Germany.
Providing that Spurs can get a deal over the line for the 24-year-old. who is valued at £26million by Transfermarkt, he could be the man to partner Cristian Romero at the heart of defence. Micky van de Ven, another player on Spurs’ list of centre-back signings, will also be a further option to start if Spurs can secure a deal for the Wolfsburg man.
If players such as Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, Joe Rodon and Japhet Tanganga are still at the club come the first game of the campaign, Postecoglou will have a decision to make over whether they make the bench or not. In terms of the full-backs, Emerson Royal and Pedro Porro will be options on the right with Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies the choices on the left.
The arrival of Maddison from Leicester City in a £40million transfer deal gives the Lilywhites a huge boost in the middle of the park, especially with the England international posting very impressive numbers in terms of goals and assists. As Rodrigo Bentancur will still be working his way back to full fitness at that point from the ACL injury he sustained at the beginning of February, Postecoglou will still have a number of players in Yves Bissouma, Oliver Skipp, Pape Matar Sarr and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to choose from in midfield.
Kulusevski could be another option to play in the No.8 role as he has experience of playing in the position before when coming through Atalanta’s system. However, Postecoglou may prefer the Swede to play wide on the right for him given what he can contribute going forward.
With Son Heung-min set to get the nod over Richarlison to start on the left, the hope will be that Harry Kane is still a Tottenham player by the time the Brentford fixture comes around and he starts up front. Needing another attacking option heading into the season following Lucas Moura and Arnaut Danjuma’s exits, Manor Solomon looks set to be that man by penning a long-term contract in north London and Bryan Gil could still be at the club unless he heads out on loan again.
Tottenham’s ideal matchday squad vs Brentford after summer signings
Goalkeepers: Vicario, Forster
Defenders: Emerson, Porro, Romero, Tapsoba, Van de Ven, Dier, Davies, Udogie
Midfielders: Bissouma, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Sarr, Maddison
Attackers: Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son, Solomon, Kane
