Tottenham are considering massive summer transfer gamble

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Nathaniel Clyne of Liverpool challenges Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Europa League quarter final, second leg match between Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund at Anfield on April 14, 2016 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Nathaniel Clyne of Liverpool challenges Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Europa League quarter final, second leg match between Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund at Anfield on April 14, 2016 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Tottenham could stun Europe by purchasing Marco Reus

The fact that Tottenham have emerged as legitimate contenders to win the Champions League this season is clearly starting to alter the club’s summer transfer plans. That’s the only reasonable explanation for Spurs’ interest in signing Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus.

Reports from England claim the talented German is undecided on whether or not he’ll extend his stay with the Bundesliga club. He certainly hasn’t closed the door on remaining in his homeland, but he wants to see a great deal of ambition from Dortmund if he is to stay. The German club’s plans are very much in the air at the moment.

The uncertainty has attracted the notice of both Tottenham and Liverpool. While bringing Reus to Anfield would be a pretty normal transaction for Liverpool, it would signal a massive policy departure for Spurs. Daniel Levy and company have historically been very reluctant to spend massively in the transfer market. When they are willing to make large expenditures, it’s never for a player who is already 28 years of age.

The explanation for Spurs interest in Reus at this stage is pretty simple. The club are moving into a massive new stadium next season and want to generate as much interest as possible. Even aside from the change in venue, many see this summer as a real tipping point in the club’s history.

If Tottenham really invest in the squad it’s possible they can ascend to regular Premier League title contenders. Pochettino has clearly shown the ability to punch above his weight in terms of resources, but he can’t perform financial miracles forever. At some point, Spurs will need to back him with the money he needs to challenge the likes of Manchester City, United and Chelsea.

More from Tottenham Hotspur

Buying Reus this summer would be an unquestioned sign of Tottenham’s ambition. He’s an established European star who can perform at a high level on the biggest stage. The real question is whether or not he can stay healthy for an entire campaign. His injury history for Dortmund over the past two seasons has been dodgy at best. Paying big money for him at this stage of his career would represent a massive gamble by the Tottenham hierarchy.

In the end, the question of whether or not this would be a good move for Pochettino and company comes down to price. Reus only has one year left on his current contract, so it’s possible Dortmund may be feeling the heat to sell. It would be interesting to see just how big that discount would really be.

Next: Tottenham can't be fooled by Llorente

Purchasing Reus for £35 million seems like a worthwhile gamble while moving the figure upwards of £50 million would feel a lot more like desperation. At the very least, Tottenham’s continued interest in the stylish attacker will provide fans with an interesting guide on how the club will proceed this summer. It’s a story worth watching with great detail moving forward.