Why Daniel Levy must ensure Paulo Dybala and Philippe Coutinho rumours become reality
With just hours left until the transfer window closes, the Spurs chairman faces two of his most important days since taking over the club
Tottenham fans must feel like they've been here before.
In 2002, while the club were treading water in mid-table, they somehow very nearly clinched the signing of Brazilian superstar Rivaldo, until the player eventually, probably wisely, opted for AC Milan at the last minute.
In 2011 they failed in a £35million January bid for a talented Atletico Madrid forward named Sergio Aguero. Whatever happened to him?
And last summer they were linked with a whole host of world-class names and signed precisely no one.
So you would forgive supporters of the north London club for not getting their hopes too high about reports suggesting they are flirting with moves for Juventus' Paulo Dybala and Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho.
Paulo Dybala would be a hugely significant signing for Tottenham (Image: Imago/PA Images)
Only this time it's a bit different.
Because this time notoriously-thrifty chairman Daniel Levy is running out of excuses to not take the huge opportunity to sign at least one of the genuinely world-class talents on offer.
In the aftermath of Tottenham's astonishing run to last season's Champions League final, manager Mauricio Pochettino talked of a "painful" rebuild over the summer in order for the team to be able to continue competing at such a high level.
Yet with just hours to go before the end of business in the Premier League, Spurs have let only one key first-team player go - Kieran Trippier - and have brought in just two new signings, one of whom will not even be able to play for them until 2020 (Jack Clarke).
Yes, the capture of Tanguy Ndombele is a big one for the club, but the French midfielder, despite all his talent, is not quite yet at that world elite level.
Dybala and Coutinho most certainly are.
Philippe Coutinho has also been linked with Spurs (Image: REUTERS)
For all Dybala's struggles last season, one has to remember just how good the Argentine was in the three campaigns before that, where he was instrumental in helping Juventus win the Serie A in each season he was there.
As for Coutinho, although he is hardly a fans' favourite at the Nou Camp he has still shown glimpses of the brilliance he demonstrated on a regular basis while at Liverpool, and having played under Pochettino during his loan spell at Espanyol in 2012 he will know all about how much the charismatic manager can get out of players.
These kind of stars are now not unrealistic for Spurs. This is not the same club Rivaldo presumably deemed too small, or the one which lacked the financial capacity to sign Aguero.
They are Champions League finalists, with a glistening new stadium and some of the best training facilities in the world.
The question is, is their chairman bold enough to follow the club motto 'To dare is to do'?
Daniel Levy is in danger of losing Mauricio Pochettino's trust (Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Because Spurs fans are running out of patience. They know the club in its current form has the potential to go far, and their chairman haggling over a couple of million pounds is simply not going to be accepted anymore.
Perhaps even more dangerous than losing the supporters would be losing such a popular manager, however, and Levy appears to be seriously playing with fire judging by some of Pochettino's snarky responses when asked about transfers over the summer.
So it is no exaggeration to say Levy has a potentially era-defining couple of days ahead of him. If he manages to bring in even one of the dynamic duo linked it would go a long way towards placating Pochettino and helping keep the fans on his side.
If he fails, however, he may find that it is the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Daniel, over to you.
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