Tottenham Hotspur 2023/24 Season Preview: Key Fixtures, Transfers, Star Player & Predictions | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur had a forgettable last season as they failed to qualify for any European tournaments for the first time in over a decade.

However, they have started laying the foundation for a potential top-four challenge this season and have gotten most of their transfer business done early.

Ange Postecoglou faces an uphill task as he bids to return Champions League football to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, with success in the domestic tournaments being the cherry on top.

However, his job could get even more complicated if Harry Kane cuts ties with the club this summer, as the Englishman is eager to explore new horizons overseas.

Here is our Tottenham season preview for 2023/24. You can also check out our detailed Premier League season previews for all 20 teams.

Tottenham Fixtures

Tottenham begin their Premier League campaign with a London derby showdown against Brentford on August 13.

They will host Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19 before travelling to Bournemouth the following Matchday.

Spurs take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on September 23 in their first North London derby of the season before hosting Chelsea on November 4.

Their Boxing Day fixture sees them take on Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium before facing a daunting run of games in April.

They begin the month with a trip to West Ham United before visiting Newcastle United on April 13. They will also face Manchester City (H) on April 20, while the reverse fixture against Arsenal is scheduled for April 27.

The fixtures do not get any easier for Postecoglou’s side as they kick off May with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool before closing out the season away to newly-promoted Sheffield United on May 19.

Manager

After last season’s managerial merry-go-round and a lengthy search for a permanent head coach, Tottenham have placed their faith in Postecoglou to help restore them to the European places.

Postecoglou spent two years at Celtic and won five major honours with the Scottish giants, including a sensational domestic treble last season, which put him on Tottenham’s radar.

Although he may be an unknown quantity in the Premier League, his tactical acumen could be what Tottenham needs after a disappointing campaign.

The pressure is on for Postecoglou to lead the team to a top-four finish, but that could prove challenging, especially if Spurs lose their all-time highest goalscorer this summer.

Despite not having experience in Europe’s top five leagues, Postecoglou is a proven winner and could surprise many this season, especially without the added pressure of European football.

Transfer Business

Tottenham have been active in the transfer market this summer, adding four new players to Postecoglou’s squad, with the Australian manager eager to make his mark on the team.

Dejan Kulusevski has joined on a permanent deal from Juventus, but James Maddison has been the eye-catching recruit thus far.

The England international midfielder joined from relegated Leicester City, who demanded £40 million for his signature.

Maddison was a standout performer for the Foxes during his five-year stay at King Power Stadium, registering 55 goals and 41 assists in 203 appearances.

Last season, the 26-year-old did his best to help Leicester retain their top-flight status, contributing ten goals and nine assists across all competitions.

He also completed 2.3 key passes per game and created 12 big chances in the Premier League.

Maddison’s addition to Spurs, who have also signed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Manor Solomon, will undoubtedly strengthen the team.

But they still need to revamp their defence after conceding a massively disappointing 63 goals last term.

Lucas Moura and Harry Winks are the only notable exits from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thus far, but the odds of Kane leaving the club this summer are very high.

Spurs are resigned to losing their star striker to either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain. It will be intriguing to see who they sign to fill Kane’s shoes, as they would have a difficult task on their hands.

Tottenham stalwart Hugo Lloris could also depart the club after 11 years, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been linked with a move to Spain.

Starting XI

Tottenham are expected to set up in Postecoglou’s preferred back-four system as opposed to the 3-4-3 structure they have been accustomed to over the years.

With Lloris poised to leave Tottenham this summer, Vicario is set to be the first-choice goalkeeper. Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, and Pedro Porro should be the next line of defence in front of the goalie.

With Rodrigo Bentancur still sidelined, Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp are likely to hold down the fort at the base of the midfield, with Heung-min Son, Maddison, and Kulusevski playing in front of them.

For the first time in a decade, Spurs could take to the field without Kane leading the attack. Richarlison, who only managed one Premier League goal last season, could be Tottenham’s main man this season.

Here is our prediction for Tottenham’s strongest starting XI next season:

4-2-3-1: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Dier, Davies; Skipp, Hojbjerg; Son, Maddison, Kulusevski; Richarlison.

Star Player

When contemplating which Spurs players would hug the spotlight, Kane instantly springs to mind due to his remarkable goal-scoring record for the club.

Last season, he netted 30 times in 38 Premier League games, accounting for 43% of Tottenham’s goals – the highest percentage for one club of any player in the division.

To put Kane’s importance to Spurs into context, his goals earned the club an extra 24 points, and without his contribution, they would have finished the season tied on points with Everton, who finished in 17th place.

Typically, Spurs would be building their plans around Kane. But with his time in North London poised to end this summer, others may have to step up and help fill the void he would undoubtedly leave behind.

The onus would be on Son, who is the club’s next-best threat in the final third. Last season, the South Korean had a disappointing campaign, scoring only 14 goals in all competitions.

He will need to significantly improve on those numbers to help Spurs force their way back into the European places next term.

Prediction

It may take Postecoglou some time to adjust to the Premier League, and the Tottenham fans should be prepared to exercise patience with their new manager.

Since they do not have to contend with the additional pressure of continental football, aiming for a comeback to the European places is a realistic ambition.

For the past decade, Tottenham have frequently participated in European competitions and will be eager to reclaim a spot in the top seven this year.

Nonetheless, it may be difficult for them to finish in the top four, and winning any of the domestic competitions could also be a challenge.

Predicted finish: 8th

Also Read: Detailed Premier League season previews for all 20 teams.