Spurs: Where do they need to strengthen this summer?

Tottenham have already been busy in the transfer market this summer – after a couple of defensive additions we take a look at where else the north Londoners need to strengthen to break into the top-four...

The captures of young defenders Kevin Wimmer and Kieran Trippier lean towards the shift in transfer strategy that Sky Sports anticipated earlier this year. But where else, and with who else, will Spurs look to improve?

Kevin Wimmer has signed a five-year contract with Tottenham

Wimmer and Trippier fit the club’s new policy of signing young, hungry players who are keen to develop under Mauricio Pochettino and, along with January signings Dele Alli and DeAndre Yedlin, they also highlight that Pochettino and new head of recruitment Paul Mitchell, who worked together at Southampton, are the driving force behind signings.

Pochettino was largely forced to work with what he had following his appointment last summer but the club are keen to bring through more youth players and will therefore assess carefully whether new recruits will block a prospect's path.

Alex Pritchard will be part of the first-team squad at White Hart Lane next season

Alex Pritchard, who thrived on loan at Brentford last season, has already been told he will be a fully integrated member of the first-team squad next season, while the likes of Tom Carroll, Harry Winks, Grant Ward, Luke McGee, Kyle Walker-Peters and Josh Onomah were all included on the post-season tour for a reason.

But in order to clear those paths they must offload a string of more ageing talents who have failed to prove themselves to Pochettino, and Sky sources understand the task of doing that has been handed to the marginalised technical director Franco Baldini, who spearheaded the unsuccessful £100m+ recruitment drive in 2013.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Younes Kaboul are among the players who could leave this summer

Aaron Lennon, Emmanuel Adebayor, Younes Kaboul, Etienne Capoue and Vlad Chiriches, who were all made available for loans in January, are no longer wanted at the club while Spurs will listen to offers for Benjamin Stambouli, Roberto Soldado, Paulinho and Mousa Dembele.

Central defence

Spurs are potentially in the market for another centre-back if the right deal comes along, and have let their interest in Barcelona's Marc Bartra and Atletico Madrid's Toby Alderweireld be known, but even selling Kaboul and Chiriches would leave them with four centre-halves in Jan Vertonghen, Eric Dier, Federico Fazio and Wimmer.

Barcelona's Marc Bartra is one of several names under consideration by Spurs

Academy centre-back Milos Veljkovic has extended his contract and played every minute of Serbia's success in the U20 World Cup in New Zealand where they beat Brazil in the final. He could prove himself worthy of competing for a first-team place as well as full-back Ryan Fredericks, who was on loan at Middlesbrough.

Austria international Wimmer, 22, was Tottenham’s first summer arrival and arrives with a reputation as an aggressive, athletic central defender. The 24-year-old Trippier, meanwhile, played more minutes, delivered more crosses and created more chances than any other full-back under 25 in Europe's top five leagues last season.

Kieran Trippier will provide competition for Kyle Walker at right-back

During his time in England, Pochettino has developed a string of full-backs such as Danny Rose, Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne and Trippier could be the latest beneficiary, having signed from Burnley for what looks to be a bargain at £3.5m.

Midfield

Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason struck up an excellent partnership last season and will continue to improve, while Alli will be hungry to force his way in immediately, but Spurs are also looking for a new central midfielder.

Tottenham have a long-standing interest in Morgan Schneiderlin but a move looks unlikely

Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin has long been linked with a move to White Hart Lane but Spurs are highly unlikely to persuade him to join; the player having already stated he will only move to a Champions League club.

There is interest in Gianelle Imbula, although not strong at this stage, but the two names point to the kind of dynamic, multi-purpose midfielder they are looking for. Spurs have also asked to be kept in the loop about Alex Song, whom they opted against signing on loan last summer, preferring a permanent deal for Stambouli instead.

Alex Song fits the bill for the type of midfielder Pochettino is seeking

Winks is another academy player Spurs are giving serious assessment too and will have the summer to prove himself. He could force his way into contention.

Attack

The most pressing of priorities for Tottenham is another striker, like Kane, who can do everything. Danny Ings was their first choice and they went out on a limb to get him, bidding £12m just weeks before the end of his contract in an attempt to dissuade him from a move to Liverpool.

Anthony Martial is high on Tottenham's wanted-list for a striker

They have since moved on to Monaco's 19-year-old forward Anthony Martial, with Sky sources reporting earlier this month that contact has been made between the clubs. Spurs are determined to land the Frenchman and Monaco are set for more talks this week about his future. The attraction with Martial is that he is versatile; able to play anywhere in Spurs' front four positions, and has Champions League pedigree already.

Spurs' list of potential targets in attack is long, with Stuttgart youngster Timo Werner another example of the type of forward they are after; under 25, multiple strengths, with hunger to learn and succeed. Any interest in more familiar names like Christian Benteke and Charlie Austin is minimal and likely to be stepped up only if other options are exhausted and the deadline approaches.

Spurs will resist all bids for key duo Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris

Tottenham's two best performers last term, Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris, have inevitably received interest from bigger clubs such as Manchester United, but Sky sources also understand Spurs will staunchly resist offers for either of them and United would be wasting their time.