Tottenham Hotspur transfer dossier: Mauricio Pochettino chasing striker to accompany Harry Kane

The sour taste of allowing Arsenal to leapfrog them on the final day of the regular Premier League season should not detract from a hugely encouraging campaign for Tottenham. The north Londoners flirted with a tilt for the title – which they haven't won for over half a century – while a number of players who had coasted under previous regimes showed significant signs of improvement.

But there remains room for development for Spurs should they wish to again challenge for the title, not to mention compete on their return to the Champions League. Mauricio Pochettino has made no secret of his desire to improve his current resources, but how tight will the purse strings be just three years prior to the move away from White Hart Lane?

Business so far

In stark contrast to many clubs who have released players, tied squad members down to new deals or even struck an early deal before the window opens; Tottenham have been uncharacteristically quiet since the end of the season. Transfer activity around White Hart Lane has been non-existent, but it is yet to be seen whether it will be a case of calm before the storm. The only recent news concerning next season is confirmation the club will play their Champions League matches at Wembley, with a longer-term agreement for domestic games expected when they eventually leave White Hart Lane.

What they need

Though Tottenham were able to balance playing Premier League and Europa League football effectively last term with their existing squad, the higher calibre of opponent in Europe's premier club competitions means they must add depth to a squad which lacks the density to challenge on multiple fronts. The greatest priority for Pochettino will be to sign a back-up for Harry Kane who, despite winning the Premier League golden boot last term, was overworked.

The centre of defence and midfield could also do with some attention, with wafer-thin options available to Tottenham when injury or suspension hits. Moussa Dembele will miss the start of next season after an eye-gouge in the draw at Chelsea and the club can ill-afford to begin the campaign without a genuine stand-in for the Belgianor's fellow holding midfielder Eric Dier.

Who could join

A plethora of forwards have been linked with solving the problem of supporting Kane from next term. Alexandre Lacezette is the name which continues to crop up, with The Mirror reporting the club are competing with West Ham United for the £30m-rated forward's signature. Other subjects of transfer speculation include Basel's Breel Embolo, Vincent Janssen of AZ Alkmaar and fit-again AFC Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson. Troy Deeney has also been linked with a move across London from Watford.

Who could leave

Hugo Lloris has turned down a new contract, according to The Mirror, and though he is not demanding an exit from Tottenham it does make the club vulnerable to offers from elsewhere. The France captain's current deal expires in 2019. Departures could come in swathes in midfield, with Ryan Mason and Alex Pritchard both linked with summer exits. Heung-Min Son, who could start the season late should he compete with South Korea at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, has been linked with a move away from the club a year on from his move to Tottenham.

What the manager has said

Even the normally flat-batting Pochettino ventured into transfer discussion before the end of the campaign, after their title hope had disappeared. A striker appears to be top of his wishlist, but don't rule out further signings.

"We have to improve our squad – this is very clear," Pochettino said, as quoted by Evening Standard. "We are all agreed about that. The Champions League is a different level, and to compete in that, the Premier League and the domestic cups is very important.

"You need a very good balance. Our challenge is to continue as we have done and the Champions League demands a lot of energy, more than the Europa League. It's a very different competition. For that we need to ensure we have a strong squad who can compete in all competitions."