It's been a summer of change and transition at Tottenham Hotspur, who are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of last season's eighth-place Premier League finish.
Sure, the absence of two new centre-backs (one isn't bad) season ticket prices and the Harry Kane to Bayern Munich transfer saga has dampened the mood, but Ange Postecoglou's arrival has gone a long way to sprouting optimism among a perpetually pessimistic fanbase.
While Postecoglou's maiden pre-season has been far from plain-sailing with Spurs playing just twice on their tour of the Pacific, the early signs suggest the Lilywhites will be a far cry from their most recent iterations with Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte at the helm.
Just how far the former Celtic boss can take this Spurs squad depends on the business they conduct before the end of the summer transfer window, but there's no doubting that the Australian's side will be a fun watch in 2023/24.
Summer transfers
Ins:
- Dejan Kulusevski (FW) - Juventus - undisclosed
- Pedro Porro (DF) - Sporting CP - £34.5m
- James Maddison (MF) - Leicester - £40m
- Guglielmo Vicario (GK) - Empoli - £17.2m
- Manor Soloman - Shakhtar Donetsk - free
- Ashley Phillips (DF) - Blackburn Rovers - undisclosed
- Micky van de Ven (DF) - VfL Wolfsburg - undisclosed
- Alejo Veliz (FW) - Rosario Central - undisclosed
Outs:
- Harry Winks (MF) - Leicester - £10m
- Lucas Moura (FW) - Sao Paulo - released
- Clement Lenglet (DF) - Barcelona - end of loan
- Arnaut Danjuma (FW) - Villarreal - end of loan
- Joe Rodon (DF) - Leeds - loan
Tottenham squad numbers 2023/24
Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window
*James Maddison is yet to be allocated a squad number.
Tottenham key players 2023/24
Star player
Tottenham fans have been crying out for a creative midfielder like James Maddison, and he looks likely to establish himself as a protagonist amid Postecoglou's new dawn.
Maddison dazzled Premier League audiences for years at Leicester, and he's a player the Lilywhites have cried out for years in the wake of Christian Eriksen's departure.
The Englishman will operate as one of the number eights and function as Postecoglou's primary creator, and there's been plenty of positive signs in pre-season - his connection with Kane in Spurs' romping 5-1 win over Shakhtar showing what he can do with a quality striker ahead of him.
One to watch
There are an endless list of players to keep a close eye on. Yves Bissouma looks like he'll emerge as a key player under Postecoglou, while Giovani Lo Celso's Spurs career may not yet be over.
However, talented young full-back Destiny Udogie boasts a profile that'll undoubtedly intrigue the new boss, with his work at Udinese suggesting he could become a day-one starter at Spurs despite his youth.
The physically imposing full-back shone in advanced areas in Serie A, but he'll likely be tasked with a more intricate role in north London that involves shifting infield and overloading central areas. Udogie has the technique and talent to thrive as an inverted full-back.
The Italian's progress under Postecoglou will be intriguing to track because he's got all the makings of a stellar Premier League full-back.
Tottenham kits 2023/24
Home kit
Away kit
Third kit
Tottenham's third kit has not yet been released.
Tottenham Premier League prediction
Tottenham are going to be much more watchable than they have been for years (first few months of Antonio Conte's reign not withstanding), but it'll be a mammoth ask for Postecoglou to return Spurs to the Champions League.
The absence of European football next season will aid them on the domestic front, but supporters won't demand a top-four finish in year one. A cup run would be lovely, as would a style of football we've associated with Postecoglou-led sides in the past.
While winning is the ultimate goal, it cannot be regarded as the be-all and end-all at the start of this new era. It's going to take time, but Spurs should have enough - regardless of Kane's future - to finish in the top six and to look bloody good while doing it.
Tottenham 2023/24 Premier League prediction - 6th
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This article was originally published on 90min as Tottenham 2023/24 season preview: Key players, summer transfers, squad numbers & predictions.
