An optimistic start to the summer has subsided as Spurs have lost the lethal partnership that netted 46 goals last season.
Robbie Keane's £19m move to Anfield should be succeeded by Dimitar Berbatov's departure from White Hart Lane, with Manchester United and Barcelona in the running for the talented Bulgarian.
It was a different story two months ago when the club announced the high-profile signings of two of Europe's brightest young players. Luka Modric, a £15m transfer from Dynamo Zagreb, was stolen from under the noses of some of the continent's most successful clubs, while Giovani Dos Santos, the young Mexican trickster, joined in a shock cut-price £4.7m deal.
Both players, alongside new goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, shone in preseaon fixtures at Norwich and Leyton Orient this week.
The Lilywhites finally sealed a deal for David Bentley on Thursday and are also in the hunt for Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin. Chairman Daniel Levy has travelled to negotiate with Zenit St.Petersburg, but both parties are thought to be poles apart in valuation of the player.
Defensive cover is still a priority, with Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate both injury prone, and the club need to address the problem in centre midfield where a combative enforcer is urgently required. Miguel Veloso, of Sporting Lisbon, has been linked this week.
Losing such a prolific strikeforce so close to the new season is a major blow for Spurs and, despite Darren Bent's impressive seven-goal haul in two friendly games, Levy is under pressure to broker deals for some top-quality replacements.
Samuel Eto'o and David Villa would be suitable successors, yet it remains to be seen if the north London club have the substantial clout needed to persuade them to join.
Spurs' Stats
- Founded: 1882
- Home: White Hart Lane
- Capacity: 36, 310
- Chairman: Daniel Levy
- Manager: Juande Ramos
- Honours: 2 Uefa Cups, 2 League titles, 8 FA Cups, 4 League Cups
- Highest PL finish: 5th
STAR Player... Giovani dos Santos
The 19-year-old joined his new employers from Barcelona for £4.7m – the deal could rise to £8.6m depending on appearances – in what could be one of the bargains of the summer.
Slight in figure but with an incredible burst of acceleration and a superb left foot, the young Mexican seems to have inherited the skills from his father, former Brazilian footballer Zizinho.
Having come through the youth ranks at Camp Nou, Dos Santos made 16 starts under Frank Rijkaard last season and scored a hat-trick against Murcia in the final game of the season. He is used primarily as a winger, but can play up front or behind the main striker. He masterminded Mexico's 3-0 victory against Brazil in the 2005 World U-17 Cup, and scored three goals in as many games in the 2007 Fifa U-20 World Cup. It shouldn't be long before 'Gio' becomes a firm fans' favourite at White Hart Lane.