With the rumour mill now moving into overdrive concerning the arrival of Arne Slot as the man in the hot seat at the London Stadium, the attention of many fans is turning to the players he may bring in. A squad overhaul certainly seems required in North London following a disappointing and, at times humiliating, campaign – resulting in the majority of Spurs news stories being of the negative variety.
Many big names from home and abroad are already being mentioned, with the top New licensed betting sites UK now starting to list odds on the likely summer transfers. If handed the reins, will Slot opt for the headline-grabbing marquee signings? Or will he stick to what he knows, and raid his former club for the pick of the side which recently landed the Eredivisie title under his guidance?
After all, the last major managerial appointment from the Dutch top-flight, Eric ten Haag, wasted little time bringing star winger Antony, and defensive lynchpin Lisandro Martinez to Old Trafford. Feyenoord don’t have any players boasting anything like the profile of that duo, but they do have a number of standout performers who look more than ready to ply their trade in one of the top European divisions.
If Slot is appointed, and looks to Rotterdam to bolster his squad, the following five men may be amongst the most likely to follow him through the door.
Orkun Kökçü
Age: 22
Nationality: Turkish
Position: Central Midfield
Estimated Value: £26m
It would be some blow to Feyenoord to lose not only their manager but also their club captain, but it wouldn’t be surprising were Slot to turn to Kökçü to sort out the Spurs midfield. Capped 20 times by his country, Kökçü has age on his side and already boasts some highly impressive stats. During the current season, he boasts more progressive passes than any player in the top 5 European leagues. When it comes to passes into the penalty area, only one man lies ahead of him – a certain Lionel Messi.
David Hancko
Age: 25
Nationality: Slovakian
Position: Centre-Back/Left Back
Estimated Value: £17.5m
Having conceded 60+ goals this season, Spurs boast the sixth-worst defensive record in the division – only being kept within a sniff of a European position courtesy of the sixth most prolific attack. The numbers suggest defensive reinforcements are needed, and Slot may well be attracted by the reliability and versatility of Hancko. Capped 28 times by his country, his ability to cover at left back rates a positive, with Spurs looking a little thin in that position.
Lutsharel Geertruida
Age: 22
Nationality: Dutch
Position: Right Back/Centre Back
Estimated Value: £16m
Together with Kökçü, Geertrudia has been one of the rising stars of the Feyenoord side which surprised many in lifting the title this season. Comfortable on the ball, with excellent tactical awareness, Geertrudia functions well at centre-back, full-back and wing-back, making him a good fit in a range of systems. Reportedly attracting the attention of Barcelona, the allure of continuing to work with Slot may hand Spurs the advantage in the race for his signature.
Sebastian Szymanski
Age: 24
Nationality: Polish
Position: Attacking Midfield
Estimated Value: £12m
One of Spurs’ most glaring inadequacies this season has been a lack of creativity in the centre of the Park. Perhaps Polish international Szymanski could be the man to solve that issue. Possessing a wonderful left foot, the 22-cap star is a threat in and around the area, with both his shooting ability and eye for the final pass. Not yet the finished article, he was nevertheless one of the key men behind Feyenoord’s success and may be ready for the next step up the ladder.
Justin Biljow
Age: 25
Nationality: Dutch
Position: Goalkeeper
Estimated Value: £12m
With the decline in the form of Hugo Lloris, and Fraser Forster apparently not the long-term solution, Spurs seem to be linked with a new goalkeeper on an almost daily basis – David Raya, Dean Henderson, and Giorgi Mamardashvili being just a few of the names thrown into the mix. With only 29 goals conceded, Feyenoord boasted the second-best defensive record in the Eredivisie this season and Biljow made a
big contribution to those numbers, with his bravery and superb reflex stops. Still young for a keeper and capped six times by the national side, he may represent excellent value in the current market.
