How Spurs Could Line Up Next Season

By K.J. Stewart /

the lucrative advances of Paris St. Germain, the Portuguese coach has been promised £50 million to spend on new recruits, while star player Gareth Bale is set to stay with the club after White Hart Lane Chairman Daniel Levy refused to play ball with Real Madrid over the Welshman's potential transfer to Spain. Having already signed Brazilian star Paulinho - a rare early move in a transfer window from the White Hart Lane club - Spurs are certainly signalling their intent for next season. They're also being linked with a whole host of top class strikers, including Barcelona's Spanish superstar David Villa, his international team-mate Roberto Soldado of Valencia and Aston Villa's Belgian hitman Christian Benteke. Bearing all of this and other reported transfer stories in mind, here is how Spurs could realistically be lining up next season: The new additions in this line-up are Real Sociedad's Spanish left back Alberto de la Bella, the already-signed Brazilian Paulino and the aforementioned strikers Christian Benteke and David Villa, while the returning Younes Kaboul and Sandro will be like new signings to Villas-Boas, after both players missed nearly all of last season through injury. This line-up is set up in Villas-Boas' favoured 4-3-3 formation - the formation which brought him so much success in such a short time with Porto. Hugo Lloris will undoubtedly be Spurs' number one next season. The Frenchman had a wonderful first season with the club and looks set to be one of the world's best goalkeepers for many years to come. In this position, Spurs are sorted for the foreseeable future. In defence, England international Kyle Walker fills the right back position. If Walker gets back to the form he showed in the 2011-2012 season, he can be the best right back in the league. French stopper Younes Kaboul will play on the right side of the central defence. Kaboul was one of the best defenders in the country two seasons ago and was sorely missed last season. Belgian Jan Vertonghen will play alongside him on the left side of the centre of defence, making for a very strong partnership. Vertonghen was outstanding last season - his first in English football - and he made it in to the Premier League team of the year. At left back, Alberto de la Bella replaces Benoit Assou-Ekotto - whom Villas-Boas doesn't seem to rate very highly. De la Bella was outstanding last season as Real Sociedad qualified for the Champions League by finishing fourth in La Liga and could be a steal if Spurs can land him for under £6 million. A bid of £3 million has already been turned down by Sociedad, however. The midfield trio is rock-solid, consisting of the tough-tackling defensive midfielder Sandro, who was sorely missed after his injury last season. Sandro would compliment the box-to-box style of Paulinho and Mousa Dembele. This trio would make Spurs incredibly hard to break down and certainly has goals in it as well - both Paulinho and Dembele are capable goalscorers when they are given the chance to go forward. An attacking trio of Christian Benteke, David Villa and Gareth Bale (sitting just behind them) would be absolutely deadly. Any defence would be intimidated by such a potent attack. Benteke helped himself to 19 goals in the Premier League last season - his first in the Premier League, while Villa has been one of the world's best strikers for years. Although Villa is now 31, he is still playing for the Spanish national team - for whom he is the highest goalscorer of all time. Gareth Bale needs no introduction - the Welshman has been outstanding for Spurs over the past couple of seasons and he scored 21 goals in the Premier League last season which made him Spurs' top scorer. If Spurs can put together a team of this quality - particularly if they do so in time for pre-season preparations - they could be a force to be reckoned with next season. Expectations would rise from qualifying for the Champions League to challenging for the title. Let's not forget that this would also leave Spurs with a bench full of quality. The likes of Michael Dawson, Lewis Holtby, Aaron Lennon, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Clint Dempsey and Jermain Defoe are top players and could make an impact in any game - or indeed rotate seamlessly. This kind of strength in depth is nothing to be sniffed at. The future is bright at Tottenham - of that there is no doubt. How do you think Spurs will line up next season? Would this team finally bring some long overdue silverware to the club? Have your say below!

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