Former England striker and current broadcast pundit Chris Sutton has urged Tottenham to take an immediate gamble on pushing for the Premier League title or risk the heartbreak of missing out for the foreseeable future.
Despite not making a single summer signing, Mauricio Pochettino and his men find themselves sitting in second in the top flight table, taking advantage of Manchester City’s recent poor form to put themselves as the closest competitor to league leaders Liverpool.
Heading into 2019, Sutton has urged Mauricio Pochettino and Daniel Levy to unshackle themselves in the winter transfer window and take a risk on some new signings in a hope to topple the Reds – or face the disappointment of missing out on their one shot.
He wrote in his Daily Mail column: “Tottenham will never get a better chance to win the title. It is all very well to keep planning for the future but when an opportunity like this presents itself, they have to seize it.
“City and Liverpool have the resources to spend big again this summer. Chelsea and Arsenal will be stronger for a full season under their new managers and there could well be a resurgent Manchester United.
“Mauricio Pochettino’s calls for the club to take a risk in the transfer market last summer fell on deaf ears but he has never been in a stronger position to demand backing from chairman Daniel Levy. Should Liverpool suffer a similar wobble to City, Spurs must be ready to pounce.”
Opinion
It is a little premature of Sutton to suggest that Tottenham are not going to have another chance at the Premier League title, but you can understand where he is coming from. The fact that Spurs find themselves in second after what many would deem a disappointing summer transfer window and the calamity that has been their new stadium is quite astonishing and if they can continue to build on the momentum gathered already, who knows where they can finish. Sutton is right in saying that they need new signings if they are going to make a real push for glory come the end of the season, for their quality in depth is lacking in comparison to the rest of their rivals. However, it would not take much in terms of numbers to put them in a position to sink Liverpool and remain ahead of City – the only real problem is how much the necessary quality will cost. Levy is a shrewd businessman and does not like splashing out – but that could be the difference between lifting the title and finishing as runners up.