Players In: Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jan Vertonghen,

Players Out: Steven Pienaar, Vedran Corluka, Niko Kranjcar, Ryan Nelsen, Lee Angol, Ben Alnwick

Spurs will be looking to buy at least one striker before the window closes or they will be left with one fit senior striker in Jermaine Defoe and the young Harry Kane. For Kane this season comes one too soon and he could do with some experience in the Championship first. For Defoe this is absolutely make or break for his second spell at the club and he will be looking to cement that striking role as his own.

With Modric off to Real Madrid with so little time left before the window shuts, Levy and Villas-Boas will have a lot of work to do to strengthen what was proved to be a lightweight squad last season. Strikers aside they may lack for creativity if injuries occur to Bale or van der Vaart.

Vertonghen will add some poise to the central of defence and has a bullet of a free kick on him as well. Ledley King was not offered a new contract but the club are still well-stocked for centre backs so the signing of Vertonghen is a little strange when investment is required elsewhere. In Walker and Assou-Ekotto they have two excellent attacking and pacey full backs.

From comments made by Villas-Boas this summer it is clear that he will have one eye on what Chelsea are doing and will want to prove his dismissal was a mistake. Success in Portugal does not necessarily transfer to England but AVB will be desperate to create a legacy at Tottenham.

First game analysis:

AVB will be desperate for a quick start to life at Tottenham, to avoid the squad becoming mutinous as it did at Chelsea after a few poor results, and despite losing to Newcastle they controlled the first half and probably deserved at least a point. Spurs struck the woodwork twice in the first half and conceded a world-class hit from Ba before giving away an unnecessary penalty. There were promising signs for Tottenham fans though and assuming a striker can come in before the 31st August they should push for a Europa League finish.

Conclusion:

If Spurs can remain injury free their first team is a match for anyone but with no replacements for Bale, van der Vaart or Defoe every time one of these players clutches a muscle an audible gasp will fill White hart Lane. European qualification is almost expected now at the Lane but Champions League looks a step too far this time around given the investment by both of their London rivals.

Prediction: 5^th

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