Hart to Tottenham: Hit or Miss?

The new Premier League season begins in around four weeks’ time despite the 2019/20 season only just finishing for some clubs. There is truly little turnaround time for the likes of the two Manchester clubs and Wolves after involvement in European competition.

For the remaining 17 clubs, there is some movement albeit slowly of players being linked elsewhere and also incoming none more so than at Tottenham Hotspur who in the past have either had the habit of investing late into the window or not at all. That method when signing a player had a detrimental effect on all aspects of a move, no time for the player to integrate into a new club nor for a manager to impart what he expected tactically of the new signing in time for the beginning of a season.

If all goes as is expected, former England number one Joe Hart should be signed on to play for Spurs by the time this article goes to print and already there is a mixed reaction among the Spurs fanbase. 

There is some uncertainty why Spurs need the third keeper unless Jose Mourinho is considering moving on Hugo Lloris or Paulo Gazzaniga, but Tottenham have carried three keepers quite often so there is evidence that no one is leaving from the goalkeeping department and also brings in another home-grown player to count for European competition rules.

Hart who would be arriving on a free transfer from Burnley and brings with him that winning mentality, something Spurs are often accused of lacking in all areas on the pitch, the reason why they haven’t made that final step into winning trophies. Experience is another key factor in the Englishman’s arrival having played on the top stage internationally and across European competition as well, Hart could be the first piece of a new jigsaw Mourinho needs to complete for Spurs to constantly be dining at the top table.

Ultimately, Hart wasn’t the kind of keeper Pep Guardiola wanted at Manchester City and confidence certainly took a bashing from that with his England performances coming under greater review and a loss of his place. Some of that confidence will have been built up by Sean Dyche at Burnley and pitching up at one of the top six clubs again should install some more inside him to show that this career isn’t yet done.

Most Spurs fans will hope the season just passed was a blip and that a return to the top four and the Champions League is imminent although some of that will depend on not just their own summer dealings but of those around them as every club needs to get closer to Liverpool this time around.

Whether Hart is the one of a few incoming at Hotspur Way remains to be seen, Mourinho has stated in the past there is little money to work with and believes he can get more out of those he currently has within his squad, the quality is definitely there, its more a case of whether the players fit into his system or he adapts a system to fit the players.

Rumours still persist that Tanguy Ndombele might still be on his way to Italy after just one season in the Premier League although the club are insistent he’s going nowhere, Paulo Dybala is linked once again after the move last summer fell through over image rights. Cover is still needed at right back whilst it remains to be seen whether Danny Rose returns from his loan spell at Newcastle in Mourinho’s favour.

With an increased amount of games that include the Europa League should Spurs work their way through qualifying there will be plenty of match-time for the players to participate in and for once Tottenham might actually be heavy participants in a transfer window but don’t expect a raft of big money signings, after all that’s not Daniel Levy’s way.

Follow Trevor on Twitter @trevk37