Tottenham must keep Kane and appoint Nagelsmann to fix crisis

Tottenham face a huge summer after another disappointing season on the pitch. The club are in something of a crisis after going trophyless again while scattered remains of Antonio Conte’s reign also need sorting. Here Express Sport details the major issues that the club must solve over the summer if they want to enjoy any kind of success in the coming years.

Keep Harry Kane

The first point needs little explanation. Tottenham simply must keep Harry Kane. The England captain has scored 23 times in 31 Premier League games and there is a good chance the Lilywhites would be languishing in the depths of mid-table mediocrity without him.

The talisman’s current contract expires in 2024 and there is an increasingly pressing need to agree an extension in the coming months as Manchester United circle.

If Kane does depart in the next 18 months it could be the end of Tottenham’s ambitions for years. The striker remains the best chance of winning any silverware and other players will not see the club as an attractive destination if he moves elsewhere. It is simply non-negotiable that he stays in N17.

Appoint Julian Nagelsmann

With the exception of Mauricio Pochettino, many of Spurs’ managerial appointments in the last 20 years have been complete duds or high-calibre bosses who are no longer wanted by any of the other top clubs.

The latest decision is a chance to change that by going out and getting the most-sought after manager on the market. Nagelsmann has attracted interest from the likes of Chelsea in the month since he was sacked by Bayern Munich and would be an ambitious appointment for Tottenham.

The German would impart higher standards on the squad and bringing him in would be a real statement of intent, sending a message to potential signings that the club mean business.

Sell six to make room for new arrivals

Tottenham’s squad is carrying a lot of deadwood and a host of players should be moved on to make room for new additions. Davidson Sanchez, Japhet Tanganga, Tanguy Ndombele, Sergio Reguilon, Harry Winks and Bryan Gil should all be encouraged to find new clubs on a permanent basis to allow the next manager to complete a major overhaul.

The departures would help the Lilywhites to make significant additions in defence and midfield. James Maddison should be a name near the top of any incoming managers list with the club bereft of any creativity from the centre.

Alessandro Bastoni and Josko Gvardiol are players that the club have been linked with before in defence and would be huge additions.

There should also be a plan to replace Hugo Lloris with a younger goalkeeper given the captain’s falling levels of performance. David Raya would be an excellent addition to the ranks.