Chelsea star among the five free agents to improve Tottenham this summer

Tottenham need to be shrewd in the summer transfer window. Head coach Jose Mourinho has already been informed that the free agent market is one he'll need to utilise in order to strengthen his squad as the Portuguese boss seeks to improve. Spurs are enduring a stuttering season having been knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage and, prior to football's suspension due to the Coronavirus outbreak, sit seven points off the top four, so the lack of budget to add new faces will be a hammer blow to Mourinho. 

That said, there is ample talent on offer in the free market and with Spurs needing to bolster in a number of positions, WhoScored.com pick out five out of contract stars that would enhance the north London side... 

Right-back: Thomas Meunier (PSG) 

Tottenham never fully corrected their right-back issues when they sold Kyle Walker to Manchester City in 2017. Kieran Trippier was handed a fair crack at nailing down a first team spot prior to his departure for Atletico Madrid in 2019, while Serge Aurier was signed from PSG to ease Walker's exit. Aurier, Kyle Walker-Peters, Juan Foyth and even Moussa Sissoko have all been tried and tested at right-back in the three years since Walker left for City, yet all have failed to replicate the England international's form. 

Which brings us back to PSG as Spurs look to secure the services of another right-back from the Parisian powerhouse. Thomas Meunier's current deal with the French champions runs until this summer and while the Belgian has previously hinted that he would rather sign a new contract with PSG than leave, a Premier League switch is very much on the cards at this point. 

However, the issue would be whether Meunier is a real upgrade on the rejuvenated Aurier at right-back. He is creating marginally more key passes per 90 (1.4) than Aurier (1.3) in their respective leagues this season, though is stronger in possession than his former PSG teammate, with Meunier's (85.3%) pass success rate better than the Ivorian (78.3%). Having previously been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, Meunier is clearly highly thought of and boasting two title winning right-backs is no bad thing for Spurs and Mourinho. 

Left-back: Layvin Kurzawa (PSG) 

Is a PSG double raid on the cards for Spurs this summer? Like Meunier, Layvin Kurzawa's current deal expires next month and he has been linked with a move to England, albeit to Spurs' heated north London rivals Arsenal. Mourinho's side need a new left-back this year given the lack of options afforded to the Portuguese boss. Ben Davies may be first choice considering his sound defensive resolve, yet beyond the Welshman; alternatives are thin on the ground. 

Jan Vertonghen's advancing years, and his own contract issues, and Danny Rose's doubts over his future in north London means Mourinho may be left short of left-back possibilities coming into 2020/21. Kurzawa has been by no means first choice in Paris this season having made just nine league starts, but that is unlikely to deter potential suitors from pursuing the Frenchman. 

The 27-year-old chipped in with solid averages of 2.4 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per 90 in Ligue 1 this term and his ball retention qualities have ensured opponents struggle to pressure the PSG goal with Kurzawa yielding a 90.8% pass success rate in France's top tier. There is ample competition for Kurzawa across the continent, but he's a decent free option that Mourinho could use to improve Spurs' leaky backline. 

Central midfield: Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan) 

With Eric Dier adament he wants to focus his attention on developing as a centre-back, Spurs now run the risk of being down a central midfielder. In Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko, Mourinho isn't completely devoid of choice, but an experienced head in the middle of the park will help bridge the gap until youth team prospect Oliver Skipp is ready for regular senior game time. 

Giacomo Bonaventura's AC Milan deal runs until next month and with no indication that he will remain at the club, the 30-year-old could prove a shrewd addition to the Spurs squad. He hasn't featured all too regularly for the Italian outfit, making just nine league starts this term, so his departure wouldn't be too big a blow for AC Milan. 

Effective off the ball, Bonaventura averages 1.6 tackles per 90 for AC Milan in Serie A this season and he's an effective recycler of possession as an 85.6% pass success rate from 42.7 passes per 90 suggests. While he may not be a designated holding midfielder Spurs so desperately need in the wake of Dier's decision to develop solely as a centre-back, Bonaventura would at least at depth to a problematic position for Mourinho's side. 

Attacking midfield: Willian (Chelsea) 

Given Chelsea aren't prepared to offer Willian anything longer than a one-year deal, the Brazilian is set to call time on his Blues career this summer. The 31-year-old has been linked with a move to north London rivals Arsenal and Premier League leaders Liverpool, but reports on Wednesday suggest a deal to take him to Spurs to link up with Mourinho once again has been agreed.

It would be a contentious switch, of that there is no doubt, considering Willian's past. The Brazil international was close to a move to Spurs in 2013, only to have a last minute change of heart and sign for the Blues instead. The rest, as they say, is history. However, fast forward seven years and Willian could be the ideal capture for this Mourinho managed Spurs side. While casting a divisive figure at Stamford Bridge, the former Shakhtar man ranks first for key passes in both the Premier League (51) and Champions League (19) of all Chelsea players this season to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'key passes'. 

Mourinho has a number of attacking options in the final third, yet the opportunity to sign Willian would ease the burden on the likes of Son Heung-Min, Lucas Moura and January arrival Steven Bergwijn, and in the process, lessen the pressure on the perennially injured Erik Lamela. Additionally, Willian has chipped in with 1.8 tackles per 90 in the Premier League this season and this determined approach is one that sits well with Mourinho. 

Striker: Dries Mertens (Napoli) 

Beyond Harry Kane, Mourinho has no quality backup strikers in his squad. Yes, Son, Lucas and Bergwijn have all deputised up front, while Dele Alli has been used in a false nine role, but the lack of quality in reserve has hindered Spurs. There are two standout options in the free agent pool this summer: Edinson Cavani and Dries Mertens of PSG and Napoli, respectively. 

However, with Cavani commanding huge wages and considering moves to Atletico Madrid and Boca Juniors, Mertens may be viewed as the more viable option for Spurs. The Belgian has been forced to play second fiddle to Arkadiusz Milik for large parts in Serie A this season and while Mertens would be keen to become Napoli's out-and-out all-time record goalscorer - he is currently level with Marek Hamsik on 121 - a lack of new deal could impact the 32-year-old's quest to write his name into the history books. 

Mertens may have totalled just 1219 minutes of Serie A football this season, yet six goals and four assists in that run is a commendable return. Chelsea and Liverpool are monitoring his situation with Napoli and the pair have been credited with an interest in the Belgium international, so Spurs won't have a straight shot at Mertens, but he'd be just the striker they require to both shoulder the goalscoring responsibility with Kane and help fire the club back to the Champions League.