- Mar 18, 2005
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The next transfer window right now is a complete mystery.The fallout from COVID19 will have considerable impact on our transfer targets and expenditure. As stated above there will be clubs needing to sell creating opportunity and economic uncertainty will reduce the likelihood of bigger money offers for star players (i.e. Kane) - Levy has no need to sell now, with his value only likely to increase next summer assuming normality has started to resume. Good news!
Whilst Spurs financially appear stable the latest accounts exclude last summers net transfer spend, cost of managerial changes and significant lost revenue of COVID19. All this makes it unlikely that Levy will be willing/even able (when you consider the financial engineering we had to do for Bergwin in January) to sanction significant expediture, especially if we miss out on Champions League qualification. The likely shortened transfer window, uncertainty around planning, scouting etc. (just look at the challenges facing the NFL draft) mean we will have to act quickly and decisively, which given our track record and the amount of business we may wish to do doesn't bode well. Bad news!
With this in mind, I expect us to push through any largely agreed deals for younger players ie. Eze (known quantities reduce risk, hold value etc.). Actively explore loans particularly using the Mendes/Mourinho connection (ie. another Fernandes). Focus on budget options (or ones where we can spread expenditure - ie. Arsenal and Pepe) to balance squad and add future cover, ie. Giroud, Willian, PSG full backs etc. or going for the likes of Ferguson/Bogle rather than a bidding war for Max Arrons - again reducing FY20 upfront expenditure and investment risk.
I'd be very surprised if we made more than 1 or 2 signings over £20m+, with Jose having to prioritise a few key positions and compromise in other areas.
Levy's brinkmanship reaped benefits when there was less money in the game and teams were financially struggling. He got great deals to buy players from Leeds and Portsmouth and we got other good deals from Championship sides.
In recent years fees for good Championship players has gone up considerably.
After all this it is possible that many lower league clubs won't be in a position to turn down decent offer for their top players.