Tottenham have momentum of last season but spending elsewhere could overshadow them

With one of the most settled squads in the league, Tottenham's transfer activity has been kept to a minimum this summer, despite watching their Premier League title challenge fall away in the final weeks last season. Mauricio Pochettino is finally reunited with Victor Wanyama who has made the move up from the south coast to White Hart Lane after Southampton blocked the move last summer.

Elsewhere, Vincent Janssen has been brought in to ease some of the strain on Harry Kane's shoulders up front.

Federico Fazio and Alex Pritchard have been moved onto Roma and Norwich City respectively, but the biggest departure from White Hart Lane has been from behind the scenes. Paul Mitchell, the club's head of recruitment, has left the club with the Guardian suggesting his relationship with club chairman Daniel Levy had broken down.

As he leaves, Tottenham's attempts to sign Marseille winger Georges-Kévin Nkoudou hang in the balance. Reports suggest Spurs have tried to renegotiate their offer, something the French giants, who have recently come under new ownership, are having none of.

Last season

Premier League - Third

FA Cup - Fifth round

League Cup - Third round

Top scorer - Harry Kane (28)

Manager - Mauricio Pochettino

Despite the club's late capitulation, Pochettino could do little no wrong last season, with his tireless coaching and endearing vision for the game establishing him as one of the finest coaches in the Premier League. Anyone who has failed to fall in line with what the Argentine has demanded from his squad has been cast out of the club over the last two years.

Key player - Harry Kane

Having scored 47 goals over the last two seasons for his club, the burden of expectation still weighs heavily on the 22-year-old's shoulders. While Spurs will hope the arrival of Janssen will ease some of that, Kane maintaining the form that has seen him transform into England's best centre forward will be pivotal to Spurs launching another title challenge.

Expectations

There was nothing to suggest that last season's title challenge – a first for the club in the Premier League era – was a mere fluke. The evolution of an ever-improving squad under the guidance of Pochettino will continue this term, but the attack on the transfer market from the sides who performed so woefully last term poses a threat to their rise. Both Manchester City and Manchester United have spent nine figure sums to ensure Tottenham don't finish above them again, while Chelsea have also heavily invested to ensure their London rivals aren't about to become Champions League regulars at their expense again.

IBTimes UK prediction – 5<sup>th

Tottenham are very much at home among the Premier League elite now, but huge statements of intent from both Manchester clubs and Chelsea means it will be down to them and neighbours Arsenal to scrap for fourth again.