TOTTENHAM could have looked very different today if Mauricio Pochettino had made a stunning return to north London.
Pochettino, who is now the boss of the US national team, revealed he would have returned to Spurs if asked, even if they had been relegated to the Championship.
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The Argentine hinted the club approached him over a return as they suffered a horror campaign which saw them finish 17th in the Premier League.
Ultimately, Roberto De Zerbi took charge and managed to steer them clear, though this season hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing after failing to score a single goal in the league.
That is despite the club completely shifting strategy to splash over £300million on new players.
But how might the team look with that sort of backing and Pochettino being at the helm?
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Starting in goal, Pochettino was always a big fan of Robert Sanchez at Chelsea, who remained the Blues No1 until a mistake against Fulham saw them finally opt to sell him and bring in Emiliano Martinez.
The goalkeeper was regularly defended by Pochettino, and given Antonin Kinsky’s relative lack of experience, the ex-Southampton boss may have wanted someone he was more familiar with.
Centre-back recruitment likely would have been the same, with Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven a pair of mobile defenders who can play out comfortably.
Pochettino always liked having a quick right-back during his previous Spurs stint between 2014 and 2019, with his best team of that era having Kyle Walker there.
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Given that evidence, there is a chance Pochettino would have blocked the exit of England World Cup star Djed Spence.
On the other side, Spurs wanted to recruit an experienced left-back, and another who was on the market besides Andy Robertson was Ben Chilwell.
The ex-Chelsea full-back is now at Crystal Palace and scored last weekend, but Pochettino may well have given him a call to pitch moving to North London, rather than South London.
Pochettino has been the boss of the USA since 2024, and while the nation struggles to find its footing as a powerhouse on the international stage, their midfield pairing is one of their best assets.
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And the 54-year-old would have tried to make the most of that by bringing in Tyler Adams, a Prem-proven defensive midfielder who would have also cost a fraction of the price Sandro Tonali ended up costing.
Poch wanted Adams when he was at Chelsea, but a deal to land the 27-year-old in the summer of 2024 collapsed after a failed medical despite Chelsea meeting the £20m release clause at his former club, Leeds.
Spurs still would have recruited No1 target Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, while another Pochettino favourite in Conor Gallagher would have remained as the club’s No10 this season.
Gallagher was handed the captain’s armband by Pochettino at Chelsea before transfer chiefs went against the manager to sell the England midfielder to Atletico Madrid – and it isn’t something you would have bet against Poch doing again at Spurs if that reunion happened.
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Long-term target Savio would have been signed like Fernandes and Van Hecke.
But on the left and up front, Pochettino may have tried to get some of his old band back together.
Son Heung-Min could have joined Pochettino for a romantic reunion in north London alongside Troy Parrott.
The Real Betis ace has found his goalscoring touch after a winner against Real Madrid in La Liga and Lille in the Champions League, something Spurs desperately need right now.
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However, the reality is Spurs are currently in 17th just outside the relegation under ex-Brighton boss De Zerbi, with one point to their name after a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest.
They take on Everton next before facing Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, which is the sole competition they have managed to pick up a win this season – that being a 5-1 victory against Charlton.