Tottenham’s head of scouting, Rob Mackenzie, has revealed something very interesting about how the club’s transfer market strategy has evolved over the last two years.
Since Daniel Levy’s exit, we have seen numerous reports that ENIC are ready to change Tottenham’s transfer strategy and go after ready-made players.
Several outlets have suggested that Spurs are ready to target elite signings over the next few transfer windows in an effort to close the gap with the best sides in the Premier League.
It was even claimed last week that the new Tottenham leadership are ready to do away with the self-imposed wage cap so that they can go toe-to-toe with other sides for big-name signings.
Rob Mackenzie admits Tottenham were in a transitional phase over the last two years
Under Ange Postecoglou, the Lilywhites targeted talented young players who had a high ceiling but were not yet the finished product.
The club have had some success with that approach, with the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and even Micky van de Ven developing impressively.
Mackenzie has now admitted that it was a deliberate strategy since the feeling at N17 was that they had to transition their squad after the exit of some experienced players, but explained that the club’s approach has now evolved.
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He told Training Ground Guru: “When I had the privilege to rejoin Tottenham Hotspur just short two years ago, there were a whole host of things from a strategic perspective that would enhance our ability to be successful moving forward.
“At that time, with Ange (Postecoglou) as the Head Coach, we were definitely in a period of transition in terms of some of the more experienced players leaving. So how do you regenerate a squad from an energy perspective, an enthusiasm perspective, a strategic perspective?
“Within that summer and in January, we signed players who would assist with our mid to long-term sustainability as a football club. With qualification for the Champions League secured by virtue of winning last season’s Europa League, Tottenham’s transfer strategy shifted this summer.
“It’s about getting a balance and complementing what you already have. We were fortunate enough to have signed those young talents who not only can contribute now but also in the future.
“Then it felt natural [to] say, well if we’ve hopefully done a solid role in recruiting some of the most exciting talents across Europe and beyond, then actually from a short-term competitiveness perspective… it felt natural to enhance the 11 in as many ways as possible and give Thomas Frank and his staff different options across different areas of the pitch.
“Because winning games is the most important thing. Any Spurs fan who was in Bilbao (will know) that winning things is the holy grail. Moving forward, we’ll look to enhance in both areas, kind of balance them both off.”
Spurs are happy with their summer business
Mackenzie also explained that Tottenham’s recruitment had to evolve to match Thomas Frank’s tactical approach.
He insisted that the North London club’s summer window was a successful one and that there is alignment across the club on their recruitment decisions.
Mackenzie continued: “For example, if I predominantly have offensive-minded full-backs, because predominantly that is how we play, sometimes it’s the request that I want someone a bit more defensive-minded, a bit more well-balanced, because this game model will be fluid, it will change.
“If then within a game I want to affect that and I want to change it, that’s how I can do it. Having players within a squad who are capable of complementing each other and leading to you being able to win games in different ways, that is also still vitally important.
“Very objectively, I think we had a successful transfer window in the summer and we’ve brought in players capable of influencing our 11 and enhancing our performance in the Premier League. In the players that we agreed to sign – as a collective and obviously led by Thomas (Frank) – they are all playing regularly and contributing to our 11. For me, that is the best indicator that there is agreement and alignment.”