Tottenham 2023/24 season preview: Key players, summer transfers, squad numbers & predictions

It's been a summer of change and transition at Tottenham Hotspur, who are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of last season's eighth-place Premier League finish.

Sure, the absence of two new centre-backs (one isn't bad) season ticket prices and the Harry Kane to Bayern Munich transfer saga has dampened the mood, but Ange Postecoglou's arrival has gone a long way to sprouting optimism among a perpetually pessimistic fanbase.

While Postecoglou's maiden pre-season has been far from plain-sailing with Spurs playing just twice on their tour of the Pacific, the early signs suggest the Lilywhites will be a far cry from their most recent iterations with Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte at the helm.

Just how far the former Celtic boss can take this Spurs squad depends on the business they conduct before the end of the summer transfer window, but there's no doubting that the Australian's side will be a fun watch in 2023/24.

Summer transfers

Ins:

Dejan Kulusevski (FW) - Juventus - undisclosed
Pedro Porro (DF) - Sporting CP - £34.5m
James Maddison (MF) - Leicester - £40m
Guglielmo Vicario (GK) - Empoli - £17.2m
Manor Soloman - Shakhtar Donetsk - free
Ashley Phillips (DF) - Blackburn Rovers - undisclosed
Micky van de Ven (DF) - VfL Wolfsburg - undisclosed
Alejo Veliz (FW) - Rosario Central - undisclosed

Outs:

Harry Winks (MF) - Leicester - £10m
Lucas Moura (FW) - Sao Paulo - released
Clement Lenglet (DF) - Barcelona - end of loan
Arnaut Danjuma (FW) - Villarreal - end of loan
Joe Rodon (DF) - Leeds - loan

Tottenham squad numbers 2023/24

Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window

Number	Name
1	Hugo Lloris
3	Sergio Reguilon
4	Oliver Skipp
5	Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
6	Davinson Sanchez
7	Son Heung-min
8	Yves Bissouma
9	Richarlison
10	Harry Kane
11	Bryan Gil
12	Emerson Royal
13	Guglielmo Vicario
14	Ivan Perisic
15	Eric Dier
17	Cristian Romero
18	Giovani Lo Celso
19	Ryan Sessegnon
20	Fraser Forster
21	Dejan Kulusevski
23	Pedro Porro
24	Djed Spence
25	Japhet Tanganga
28	Tanguy Ndombele
29	Pape Matar Sarr
30	Rodrigo Bentancur
33	Ben Davies
35	Ashley Phillips
36	Alejo Veliz
37	Micky van de Ven
38	Destiny Udogie
40	Brandon Austin
42	Harvey White

*James Maddison is yet to be allocated a squad number.

Tottenham key players 2023/24

James Maddison will quickly become a leading man in N17 / Vince Mignott/MB Media/GettyImages

Star player

Tottenham fans have been crying out for a creative midfielder like James Maddison, and he looks likely to establish himself as a protagonist amid Postecoglou's new dawn.

Maddison dazzled Premier League audiences for years at Leicester, and he's a player the Lilywhites have cried out for years in the wake of Christian Eriksen's departure.

The Englishman will operate as one of the number eights and function as Postecoglou's primary creator, and there's been plenty of positive signs in pre-season - his connection with Kane in Spurs' romping 5-1 win over Shakhtar showing what he can do with a quality striker ahead of him.

One to watch

Destiny Udogie will start the season as Ange's first choice left-back / Vince Mignott/MB Media/GettyImages

There are an endless list of players to keep a close eye on. Yves Bissouma looks like he'll emerge as a key player under Postecoglou, while Giovani Lo Celso's Spurs career may not yet be over.

However, talented young full-back Destiny Udogie boasts a profile that'll undoubtedly intrigue the new boss, with his work at Udinese suggesting he could become a day-one starter at Spurs despite his youth.

The physically imposing full-back shone in advanced areas in Serie A, but he'll likely be tasked with a more intricate role in north London that involves shifting infield and overloading central areas. Udogie has the technique and talent to thrive as an inverted full-back.

The Italian's progress under Postecoglou will be intriguing to track because he's got all the makings of a stellar Premier League full-back.

Tottenham kits 2023/24

Home kit

Tottenham Hotspur v Lion City Sailors - Preseason Friendly

Son donning Tottenham's sleek home strip / Playmaker/MB Media/GettyImages

Away kit

🚨𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Tottenham have just launched their new away kit for the 23/24 season

Take a look 👉 https://t.co/yKGCEXiqid pic.twitter.com/CsW5lnE4HO
— The Spurs Web (@thespursweb) August 11, 2023

Third kit

Tottenham's third kit has not yet been released.

Leaked: Tottenham Third 23-24 #peskit #pes21 #pes20 #kitmaker #Spurs #THFC pic.twitter.com/ghVmgQCerG
— JPKits (@jp_kits) July 18, 2023

Tottenham Premier League prediction

Tottenham are going to be much more watchable than they have been for years (first few months of Antonio Conte's reign not withstanding), but it'll be a mammoth ask for Postecoglou to return Spurs to the Champions League.

The absence of European football next season will aid them on the domestic front, but supporters won't demand a top-four finish in year one. A cup run would be lovely, as would a style of football we've associated with Postecoglou-led sides in the past.

While winning is the ultimate goal, it cannot be regarded as the be-all and end-all at the start of this new era. It's going to take time, but Spurs should have enough - regardless of Kane's future - to finish in the top six and to look bloody good while doing it.