OPINION
Tottenham have surely been handed a boost to their prospects of recruiting well this summer following the decision of the club’s chief scout Steve Hitchin to remain in North London.
According to a report from the Mirror, Hitchin has turned down the offer to move to Ligue 1 side Marseille and become the French club’s new director of football, with Pochettino thought to have been key in persuading him to stay at Tottenham.
That could prove to be influential for Tottenham this summer, as the club look to strengthen the squad, after failing to make a single signing in either of the two transfer windows last campaign.
Despite not recruiting any new players and even losing the presence of Moussa Dembele from midfield in January, Pochettino still managed to guide Tottenham to a fourth placed finish in the Premier League and to the Champions League final.
However, this summer it is essential that Spurs do invest in the transfer market, with the likes of Michel Vorm and Fernando Llorente being released and also doubts over the future of midfielder Christian Eriksen, after the Denmark international revealed his desire to search for a new challenge, according to the Telegraph.
Pochettino will be relieved to have held onto the services of chief talent spotter Hitchin, who has already demonstrated his ability to recruit some talented players for the club, with the likes of Lucas Moura and Davison Sanchez joining Tottenham since he became the club’s chief scout.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will need to demonstrate to Pochettino that the club are in a position where they are able to hold onto key figures such as Hitchin, with the Mirror’s report also suggesting that Manchester United and several other Premier League clubs could be interested in recruiting Spurs’ chief scout.
Pochettino’s side can ill afford to lose time this summer recruiting a new head scout, with the Argentine in desperate need of adding some much needed depth to his squad, with the likes of Harry Kane, Harry Winks and Son Heung-Min all missing parts of last season leaving Spurs’ squad looking short of options.
Tottenham will be hoping they can move onto recruiting this summer, given Hitchin’s decision to remain in North London, but need to be cautious not to allow another club to prize him away.