Premier League: Tottenham wise to tweak not overhaul

Ben Davies has been one of Swansea's best players since 2012

Michael Lintorn argues that it will be no disaster if Michel Vorm and Ben Davies prove the limit of Spurs' spending...

Tottenham were the final Premier League club to complete a purchase this summer, but holding out until July 23 enabled them to act decisively, adding Swansea duo Michel Vorm and Ben Davies while sending Gylfi Sigurdsson the other way.

The deal is another example of Levynomics at work, with master negotiator Daniel Levy acquiring a player that Spurs needed more than any other in a straight swap for the surplus-to-requirements Sigurdsson. The only cash reported to have changed hands was around 5 million for Vorm.

Though the Lilywhites were perceived to have underachieved considerably last season, the sole area of the squad that was undisputedly light was at left back, where relying on unproven converted winger Danny Rose with little in reserve backfired.

Wales international Davies was one of the most attractive options open to them: a 21-year-old with two years of Premier League experience, who immediately emerged as a Liberty Stadium favourite, so to acquire him without a fee - especially when Liverpool were also keen - is an exceptional feat.

Vorm is a little more left-field as Spurs were hardly yearning for another goalkeeper after Hugo Lloris signed a contract extension, but it could be seen as a shrewd contingency plan for if they fail to finish in the top four again this term - they are 4.84/1 outsiders - and the Frenchman asks to leave.

It won't be a surprise if they welcome just one more arrival this window, most likely a centre back. The lack of upheaval might appear odd given their 2013/14 difficulties, yet the quality of the players wasn't the issue, rather that so many were trying to settle at once in an already disjointed side.

Lessons have been learnt, with new coach Mauricio Pochettino seemingly told that he will primarily work with the group that he has inherited and the early indications are that he will get more out of them than his predecessors.

Etienne Capoue, Roberto Soldado and, most encouragingly, Erik Lamela, have all featured prominently and performed impressively on the first two dates of their North American tour.

Returning to the top four will be challenging with Man United poised to pounce even if Liverpool fade - as Luke Moore suspects might happen. However, a return to the top five, where they spent four successive years before last season's sixth place, is a realistic target at 1.9110/11.