It’s been a turbulent time for Tottenham Hotspur with Jose Mourinho sacked right before a cup final and then the team coming in seventh under caretaker boss Ryan Mason.

Now that it looks likely that star striker Harry Kane will be heading to any one of a number of teams, including Manchester City (Source Metro), new head coach Nuno Espirito Santo faces an even harder task if he’s to steer Spurs back towards the top of the Premier League. 

However, there is already good news in that Spurs’ second star attacker, Son Heung-min, has signed a new four-year deal with the club (Via BBC) – announced the same day as Kane’s impending departure was revealed. This will save Espirito Santo one headache at least, as Son is easily the club’s next most valuable asset behind Kane and he’ll be vital in – quite literally – achieving the new gaffer’s goals. 

Striking a Scorching Deal 

There’s already speculation about Kane’s replacement, with Manchester City’s Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus rumoured to be under consideration when it comes to taking up Tottenham’s spare place on the pitch. The even better rumour is that Jesus is actually part of the £160 million Kane deal struck by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. Whatever the truth, it’s not the best news for Spurs’ head coach – Gabriel Jesus is simply no Harry Kane. 

Yes, he scored 50 goals in 131 Premier League games for City, but he was often brought on as a sub for Sergio Aguero. Yet if anyone can ensure this young player grows and thrives at Tottenham, it’s Espirito Santo. This potential sort-of-swap deal could prove interesting, given that the two teams will face each other in their opening game of the season. City, here at Space Casino, are heavily favoured to win that game, showing the task Nuno has. 

Can Santos repeat his Wolves wonder years? 

But with the Portuguese boss at the helm and odds suggest Tottenham are definitely in with a chance. After all, this is the man who took a lacklustre Wolverhampton Wanderers to new heights, beginning his contract in May 2017 and voted Manager of the Month by that November after Wolves scored thirteen goals to win all four of their games.

After six years in the wilderness, Wolves again reached the Premier League thanks to Espirito Santo’s leadership and finished seventh in the 2018/19 season – their highest rank in nearly two decades. He then led the team to the UEFA Europa League, the first time they’d reached it since 1980/81. 

Now Nuno Espirito Santo is tasked with leading Tottenham Hotspur into a brighter new era, and he’s got his work cut out, especially with Kane’s mooted exit.

It’s widely anticipated that he’ll favour a 3-4-3 line-up as he reshapes the squad and starts the fight to climb back up the Premier League table. After some shambolic defending last season, this area is going to be top priority for the new coach with whispers that Argentine Cristian Romero will be signed up (Source Sky Sports). A favourite of Espirito Santo’s at Wolves, Irishman Matt Doherty, is likely to continue as right wing-back and French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will keep his place after nearly a decade with the club. 

We know who’s definitely leaving, who might be going and can have a good guess at who the new faces will be.

Can the great Nuno Espirito Santo turn Tottenham’s fortunes around? Only time will tell.

Posted on August 3rd, 2021 by scott
Filed under: Article