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Ivan Toney signs, £100m transfer move - Ange Postecoglou priority summer Tottenham signing named

Ivan Toney of Brentford is challenged by Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United
Ivan Toney of Brentford is challenged by Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United -Credit:(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)


Tottenham have money to spend in the summer transfer window, while other Premier League clubs may have to battle against Financial Fair Play and Profit & Sustainability conditions.

Ange Postecoglou would like to get deals done early on in the transfer window, and that may be the view of the club as well. If they are to get transfers completed before June 30, they would go onto the 2023/24 accounts and not next year's.

There are plenty of areas that need attention this summer, but which is the biggest priority position for Postecoglou and Johan Lange to fix? We asked out football.london writers to have their say.

Rob Guest

Ange Postecoglou, Johan Lange and Tottenham have plenty to do in the transfer market this summer if they want to challenge at the top of the Premier League next term. A number of areas need strengthening, perhaps most notably the addition of a top-class midfielder to take on the No.6 role.

Joao Palhinha of Fulham would be an incredible addition and would immediately solve the No.6 conundrum facing the head coach. The Portuguese international has been a revelation since making the move to Craven Cottage and it was no surprise to see Bayern Munich make a move for him last summer.

Not only would he shield Tottenham's leaky backline and make life easier for them, he would also allow his fellow midfielders to go and do what they do best further up the pitch. Very good defensively and at regaining possession from opponents, Palhinha is also an imposing presence in the middle of the park, he is excellent on the ball and he can also chip in with a goal or two.

Maybe a player slightly older than what Tottenham have targeted in the past two transfer windows as he turns 29 in July, Palhinha is exactly the type of player Postecoglou needs when it comes to his No.6.

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Lee Wilmot

A striker, a striker, my kingdom for a striker. That's what Tottenham need most of all this summer, although it is easier said than done.

The club lost one of the all-time greats when Harry Kane left the club in a £100million deal last summer. Richarlison has been an able stand-in, but injuries have curtailed his 2023/24 season at key moments and there are question marks over his future, with Saudi Pro League clubs interested in making a big money offer.

Even if he were to stay, Ange Postecoglou needs more, he needs another player up there and if the Brazilian were to leave, you could argue Tottenham's top two priorities would both be strikers this summer.

For me, I'd go all out to sign Ivan Toney. He's got Premier League experience, he's a similar player to Harry Kane, he wants to play for a bigger club and he's only got a year left on his Brentford contract, meaning his price tag will be much lower than it was previously.

If Spurs were to go in with an offer of £50million, I think Brentford would be tempted, although nearer £60million might get the deal done sooner - which Ange Postecoglou would like of course.

Kieran Horn

Signing either an elite-level striker or defensive midfielder, in my eyes, has to be the priority for Tottenham this summer. Unfortunately for Ange Postecoglou and Johan Lange any player from those two specific positions is likely to cost a significant amount of money.

While acquiring a striker to the majority is a must, Son Heung-min and Richarlison, along with the help of others, are more than capable of filling that void at least for the time being.

That is why a new No.6 should be signed and there should be no reason why Spurs cannot go for Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes. The £100million release clause, which expires on June 30, makes a deal rather straightforward and Tottenham's strong financial position certainly makes it feasible to complete.

Declan Rice has transformed Arsenal this season following his big-money move to Emirates Stadium and if Spurs are serious about challenging in the near future, sanctioning these lucrative but worthwhile deals simply have to be done.

Joe Doyle

Spurs are in an interesting place this summer. There's quality throughout the squad, but they're perhaps lacking standout stars who would be undoubted starters in teams throughout the league following Harry Kane's exit.

While there probably have to be changes in midfield and additions to bring depth in full-back areas, I think the main priority has to be attack. If Spurs are going to persist with Ange Postecoglou's full-blooded style - which has seen them concede more goals than Manchester United this season - they have to take as many chances as possible, and for me a clinical finisher would be the most important addition.

Richarlison has faced injury issues this year and there are rumours of interest from Saudi Arabia again, while Son Heung-min hasn't been at his best in a central role. Put simply, the strength in depth hasn't been sufficient to consistently dig them out of holes and they could do with a top quality striker to really replace Kane.

It's easier said than done, but there is quality out there. The likes of Ivan Toney, Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak could all be on the move this summer, at varying price points. Any of them could help add an edge to Spurs' attack for next season.