No matter how hard I try to ignore them, there's always one summer transfer rumour that gets me daydreaming. I usually try assocciate most transfer news with something freshly squeezed from a dog's ring piece, as countless summers have taught me to manage my expectations. However, talk of Tottenham rummaging around in Real Madrid's bargain bin has me staring out the window for sustained periods, grinning like an idiot. I even saw photographic evidence of Levy in Madrid! Is it a hoax? Did he fly there for a tour of the Bernabeu just to boost season ticket sales?Huntelaar. Robben. Heinze. Just think about that for a second. A proper left back for the first time in years. Robben causing havoc down the left in the same way Lennon does on the opposite flank. Huntelaar up front banging them in for fun. Would he be better with Defoe or Keane, will we sell Pav, surely Bent has gone. I see Veloso is available, he'd be a good Jenas replacement. Too much work to do to think about this now - who cares, think about it anyway!
Back down on planet Earth I have to snap myself out of this dream by asking myself why the hell any of these world class footballing superstars would take the inevitable pay cut and join mid-table Tottenham, who don't even have any Europa League action to offer. After all, there must be a host of clubs around Europe interested. As much as I love my Spurs, we have to accept that top, top players are going to either Champions League football or a massive bundle of cash.
Potential is the only answer I can come up with. A new stadium in the pipeline, a squad of decent internationals requiring a sprinkling of stardust, a huge fan base, 'Arry's charm? All good selling points but are they enough, or will this affair be a re-run of Eto, Rivaldo et al? Let's just hope we find out before August 31st this time.
Unfortunately potential doesn't do much for a person's trophy cabinet or their bank balance, but even if this deal goes south, you have to take heart that at least the chaps in charge are targeting the right kind of players. Quality, proven internationals with experience at the highest level are exactly what we need to push on.
Here's hoping...
