What next........

So hopefully we're all not too far from
getting over the injustice/
incompetence that has put us in this
situation for another year. We're not
going to be in the Champion's League
next season, Redknapp isn't leaving.
It's done. Deal with it. Move on.
This doesn't have to be the disaster
we're all fearing it might be, but it's
going to take Levy playing this transfer
window like a grand master to avoid
it.

Here's what I think needs to
happen:
We need to wrap up the Vertonghen
transfer. He's already stated he wants
to come to Spurs with or without CL,
so let's get it finalised and announced
in the next few days, even if that
means paying a couple million more
than would be ideal. It's a statement
signing and would be a great
message to the world, and other
transfer targets in particular, that
we're not down and out.

We all need to accept that Modric is
leaving. Let's not damage morale, and
our image, by dragging it out for too
long. There'll be lots of interest and
we should be able to get 35m for him.
Levy needs to get it done, to anyone
but Chelsea, and then make a public
statement that those funds and more
will be available to Redknapp to
strengthen the squad if he he wants
them.

Secure the permanent signing of
Adebayor. He wants to come, City
want rid, this should be doable,
there's not much more to say about
it.

Find another top striker to spend the
Modric money on. This is going to be
tough with no CL on offer, but
hopefully we can pull something out
of the bag on this score. Nobody else
seems to be looking at Remy and
Marseille apparently need to cash in,
so while our chances have dropped
I'm still hoping we can pull this off.
We need to stop dreaming about
Huntelaar and Llorente and Soldado
and probably even Damaio - what
little chance we had of attracting those
guys has gone.

This all needs to happen quickly -
before the Euros quickly.
Now we need to offload the
deadweight and add a little depth to
the squad. By deadweight I'm talking
Gomes, Bassong, Jenas, Bentley and
Pienaar who should each fetch 4-6m,
and Corluka, Dos Santos, Kranjcar and
Defoe who I would expect to fetch
8-10m each. Call that 60m total, plus
Modric and Pavlyuchenko funds and
we've got a 100m transfer kitty with
no need for the club to invest cash.
That's a very good position to be in.
Now the adding depth. First port for
me is Dembele, 10m. Next wingers/
forwards. 10m should be enough to
get Albrighton out of Villa, Hoilett is
available on a free, a third striker in
Moses, Jones, this Kone guy who I
don't know a lot about but is available
for free and scored 15 goals in La Liga
this year - I'd be happy with Holt for
this role even, given he apparently
wants out of Norwich (I'd take keeping
Defoe for the third striker role to be
honest, I just don't see him wanting
to do so).

Finally - and this might be even
tougher than getting us a top striker -
we need to keep hold of Bale. Our
credibility can take the loss of Modric,
but not Bale as well. I think we can
manage this. He's only 22, has always
looked to have a good head on his
shoulders, and has only given us two
and a half years so far. If he can be
convinced to come out and say he
doesn't want to go then great, if we
have to endure a replay of the Modric
situation last summer so be it, as long
as we keep him.

I'm not worried about having trouble
keeping hold of any other members
of our squad: Walker just signed a
new contract; VdV's been there, done
that and seems happy as the big fish
at Spurs; Sandro seems fully
committed, is still young and has only
just started; everyone else is too
underated to worry about.
For me, that's a summer's business
that can get us past this huge setback
and keep us competitive for next
season and going forward. It might be
tough to pull off, and I think if
anything is going to scupper it it'll be
Levy's notorious fondness for
dragging out negotiations, but it's a
plan that's realistic and that keeps us
in the mix.