Tottenham may benefit from Arsenal’s recent transfer purchase

Spurs might actually benefit from Arsenal’s purchase of Granit Xhaka

As a Tottenham fan I’m generally not inclined to celebrate when Arsenal sign a player I like in the transfer window. However, I might make an exception when it comes to the Gunners’ impending purchase of Swiss star Granit Xhaka.

Perhaps I’m just looking for a Spurs silver lining, but I think this transaction could work out in Tottenham’s favor. Xhaka will almost certainly help Arsenal on the pitch next season, but Spurs might gain an advantage over Arsenal for the rest of the summer transfer window because of his transfer.

First off, Arsenal signing Xhaka likely takes them out of the potential bidding for any other defensive midfielders. At the very least, it probably eliminates them from bidding for Tottenham’s top targets at the crucial position.

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Specifically, I think the purchase of Xhaka likely takes the Gunners out of the running for Southampton destroyer Victor Wanyama. That should put Tottenham squarely in the driver’s seat for his purchase this summer. Adding a proven Premier League star in the double pivot would be a huge boost for Tottenham’s off-season.

Tottenham can also gain a leg up on Arsenal because of the large sum of money it will cost the Gunners to acquire Xhaka. Reports claim that the talented midfielder will cost Arsene Wenger and company somewhere around 30 million pounds. If that’s true, it won’t leave Wenger all that large of a war chest for his club’s additional summer needs.

Most importantly for Spurs, it should remove Arsenal from being able to wield a financial advantage as the two clubs chase their striking targets in the coming months. Names like Alexandre Lacazette, Michy Batshuayi and others have been bandied about as targets for both clubs over the past several months. In a sense, Mauricio Pochettino’s side will now have a 30 million pound head start as it relates to their transfer chase.

That doesn’t mean that Arsenal can’t compete with Spurs financially, but it does mean they’re unlikely to blow their rivals out of the water with any single transfer bid. Combine that with Tottenham’s recent ability to offer Champions League football, and the two clubs are sitting at much more level positions than years past in the eyes of potential targets.

In sum, as Spurs fans we don’t have to be happy about Granit Xhaka’s impending arrival at Arsenal, but it’s not news to ruin out summer either. In fact, it could work out quite well for our side in the end.