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Premier League team guide: Tottenham in the spotlight
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James Nalton
LiveScore
Heung-Min Son is ready to become the main man at Tottenham if Harry Kane departs
Heung-Min Son is ready to become the main man at Tottenham if Harry Kane departs

A new manager and new hope but the fear of their star player leaving — there are plenty of unknowns at Tottenham ahead of the new campaign.

While Spurs will be expected to finish in the top six as a minimum requirement, boss Nuno Espirito Santo has plenty to ponder. 

Will Harry Kane finally leave? Who will replace him? What will Nuno's team look like? What are the club’s ambitions?

All those questions and more will be answered in the coming weeks as what should be an intriguing season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium bursts into life. 

Last season

Harry Kane was the star of the show last season but Tottenham could lose their talisman
Harry Kane was the star of the show last season but Tottenham could lose their talisman

Despite an opening day defeat to Everton, Spurs started the 2020-21 campaign brightly — at least in terms of results. 

Mourinho’s side topped the table for a few weeks in November and into December but their subsequent decline saw them drop as low as ninth before finishing seventh following the Special One's departure in April. 

It was enough to secure a place in the intriguing but unfortunately named Europa Conference League, a European competition the North Londoners have a realistic chance of winning.

A manager like Mourinho can make more headlines than his team, often intentionally, which made for a strange season of mixed emotions for Spurs fans.

The Portuguese was eventually sacked as a result of that declining form in the league, missing out on the chance to manage his side in the Carabao Cup final, which they lost to Manchester City.

New faces

Bryan Gil enjoys cutting inside with the ball and bringing his fellow midfielders and forwards into play
Bryan Gil enjoys cutting inside with the ball and bringing his fellow midfielders and forwards into play

Bryan Gil, one of the top young Spanish talents, was snapped up from Sevilla for £21.4million plus Erik Lamela.

Left-footer Gil, 20, will open up a new dimension in attack, providing width on the left as well as the potential to be a threat by cutting in from the right onto his stronger foot.

Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini has also arrived on loan from Atalanta for the season as back-up to Hugo Lloris.

But the biggest business may be yet to come. If Tottenham sell Kane to Manchester City, they will receive a sizable fee to reinvest.

The club’s recruitment team have now had ample time to shortlist possible replacements for their star striker, so things could move quickly should he depart. 

The line-up

3-4-3: Lloris; Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Doherty, Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Reguilon; Bergwijn, Son, Gil.

With the potential for Kane to leave before the transfer window slams shut, it is difficult to predict how Spurs will line-up early in the season. 

Even if he ends up staying, the England skipper will not be available immediately after an extended break following England's Euro 2020 exploits. 

Nuno's formation may also depend on which players arrive or depart, and indeed the opposition, but the former Wolves boss already has plenty of squad members capable of operating in his preferred 3-4-3.

Star man: Heung-Min Son

Heung-Min Son enjoyed the best goalscoring campaign of his career in 2020-21
Heung-Min Son enjoyed the best goalscoring campaign of his career in 2020-21

Despite already being a key player for Tottenham, Heung-Min Son will be the undisputed star of the show if Kane leaves.

Last season he notched a career-best 17 league goals and 10 assists — and did so in a generally poor Spurs side.

If the team can rise to his level, Son’s output could undoubtedly increase. But even if it does not, his presence will be vital to making sure others have the time and space to perform.

A hard worker off the ball with an eye for goal and a generous helping of creativity, there are few better players in the Premier League.

Up-and-comer: Oliver Skipp

After impressing on loan at Championship winners Norwich last season, Oliver Skipp could be given the chance to stake a claim for a starting place this term.

Nuno has indicated that both the 20-year-old midfielder and left-back Ryan Sessegnon, 21, will be handed opportunities to fight for a place in the side.

Given the number of minutes Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has played for club and country over the last year, the Dane could end up needing a rest. 

And Skipp appears more than ready to step up to the plate when needed in 2021-22.

The boss: Nuno Espirito Santo

Nuno, 47, will be looking to prove he has what it takes to manage a club of Tottenham's standing.

It remains to be seen whether the Portuguese will stick with the back three he often used at Wolves or switch to a flat back four. 

As mentioned earlier, this could depend as much on the opposition as it does on available personnel.

Tactically, Nuno is not entirely dissimilar to Mourinho but has shown he can be more flexible than the man he has replaced. 

He will be looking to grab this opportunity with both hands and showcase his managerial talents.

But Nuno will need to challenge for the Champions League places in order to boost his reputation in North London.

All information correct as of midday, August 6, 2021

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Tottenham HotspurPremier League
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