If not for their FA cup win, Chelsea had a relatively disappointing campaign this time around. Antonio Conte’s men were not able to replicate the form they produced to win the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season, with the Blues finishing 5th in the league with 70 points, thereby missing out on Champions League qualification.
The Stamford Bridge outfit will immediately look to revamp the squad ahead of the new campaign as they lacked the defensive solidity they displayed in their title-winning campaign under the Italian.
On the other hand, Tottenham Hotspur once again managed to finish in the top four and booked a spot in next year’s Champions League.
The Lilywhites finished 3rd in the league with 77 points in total. Mauricio Pochettino’s men have now finished in the top four in the last three years, so the club is certainly making progress. But Spurs still haven’t been able to win a trophy under the Argentine coach.
Tottenham are reportedly battling it out with Chelsea for the signature of Newcastle centre-back Jamaal Lascelles. The 24-year-old is a key target for Chelsea this summer as they aim to strengthen their backline. However, Spurs are also admirers of the defender, who impressed at Newcastle last season.
The Magpies skipper made 33 appearances in the league last season, helping his side to manage 12 clean sheets. He averaged 0.9 tackles,0.8 interceptions and an impressive 7 clearances per game respectively.
Both Spurs and Chelsea were sloppy at the back, with their defensive fragilities exposed during the 2017/18 season. Tottenham conceded 36 times and Chelsea let in a total of 38 goals in the Premier League.
Both teams surely require defensive reinforcements at the back. Spurs skipper Jan Vertonghen will not be able to carry on for too long given his age, meaning Pochettino will be in dire need of finding a replacement for the Belgian.
The north London club are also expected to sell Toby Alderweireld this summer after the Belgium international rejected their offer of a new contract. Manchester United are reportedly chasing the defender and it would seem as though Spurs desperately need reinforcements at the back.
Fortunately, Davinson Sanchez slotted into the centre back role gracefully, following his move from Ajax last summer. If Spurs can sign one more defender, all their problems should be solved, considering their attacking lineup is lead by Harry Kane, who had another fantastic season, scoring his personal best of 30 goals in the league.
Newcastle have consistently stated that they don’t want to sell their prized asset and Lascelles claims he is happy to stay at St James’ Park. But the chance to play in the Champions League is far too good an offer to ignore, which means there is a good possibility of him making a move away from Newcastle and join Tottenham instead of Chelsea.
But with coach Rafael Benitez uncertain of how much money he will be given to spend in the transfer market, their stance may soften should someone meet their valuation because the funds could then be used to acquire more players.
