David Ornstein backs Tottenham to make ‘top signings’ after deals already struck
Tottenham Hotspur still have it all to play for after their 1-1 Europa League quarter-final first leg draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Spurs head out to Germany next Thursday following this week’s first phase (10 April), in which Pedro Porro’s equaliser could prove vital.
Ange Postecoglou is under pressure to deliver the Lilywhites’ first major trophy since 2008 to keep his job, as well as qualify an otherwise ailing Spurs side for the Champions League next term.
Tottenham backed to pull off major transfers as Liam Delap linked
There aren’t many occasions – if any – when a side who finishes between 13th and 16th in the Premier League plays their following season in the Champions League.
But that is the opportunity which remains flickering for Spurs as they head out for their tricky test in Frankfurt next week – after their league clash with Wolves (13 April).
The Athletic‘s David Ornstein (11 April) took part in his latest fan Q&A when the question was thrown his way over whether Spurs could still sign top talent without the pull of European football.
The enquiry noted how Spurs have been linked with Matheus Cunha, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap in recent weeks – the latter in particular likely available for £30million this summer due to a relegation release clause at Ipswich Town.
Ornstein believes Daniel Levy could still make the big moves happen, interestingly citing the young talent Spurs signed in the last two transfer windows.
“They’ve done a pretty good job of it so far! Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Antonin Kinsky… top signings who are impacting now and will be even better in the future,” he said.
“That’s strong recruitment from Spurs in that area and there’s no reason why it won’t continue.”
Spurs signed those players while still in Europe
With respect to those young players, while they are all evidently very talented and will go on to have tremendous careers – they are not yet at the consistently delivering level of Cunha, Delap or Borussia Dortmund sensation Gittens.
To reflect Ornstein’s point, Spurs do have an excellent recruitment team, granted, but they also attracted those young prodigies while still competing in Europe.
Tottenham would have very little issue convincing players of Delap’s ilk to join the project in North London if they were in the Champions League next season by winning the Europa League next month.
| Tottenham Hotspur – 2024-25 signings |
| Dominic Solanke |
| Archie Gray |
| Lucas Bergvall |
| Wilson Odobert |
| Antonin Kinsky |
| Mathys Tel |
| Kevin Danso |
| Yang Min-hyeok |
But it could be a very different story considering the other clubs who have been credited with an interest if there is no European table for Spurs to sit at in 2025-26.
Levy, consistently the subject of vitriol from the Lilywhites faithful, will claim at least some credit in the bank if he still manages to attract someone like Delap or Cunha with only domestic football to play.