Dawson believes Bale and the Brazilian can make Spurs come back stronger.
Tottenham Hotspur skipper Michael Dawson thinks that the signing of club record transfer Paulinho and Gareth Bale not moving to Real Madrid, means the club can mount a top four challenge next season.
Spurs missed out on the Champions League places by a single point to fierce rivals Arsenal last season, with the Gunners pipping ahead of the club with a win at Newcastle United in the final game of the campaign.
It was an agonising moment for Dawson and the Tottenham team, but the Englishman believes things can be different in the upcoming year.
“We had a great squad already, and keeping Gareth [Bale] is massive,” Dawson told the Guardian.
“To keep hold of Gareth, a world-class player who had such an incredible season last year, while also bringing others in will only stand us in good stead.
“A little bit of tweaking and strengthening, and we’ll have improved again. Now we have to earn the right to finish in the top four.”
“There’s no hiding that the end of last season was a massive disappointment.
“To have finished with 72 points, a Tottenham record, and yet missed out on the Champions League, our target back at the start of the season … But we go again. I’m always positive going into a new campaign
“The signing of Paulinho over the weekend was a big statement.”
Securing the Brazil international cost Spurs £17m, beating their previous transfer record of £16.5m for Luka Modric back in 2008.
There are high expectations surrounding the 24-year-old, but if recent performances at the Confederations Cup are anything to go by – Brazil won the tournament by beating Spain 3-0 in the final – the midfielder is a safe bet for success.
Dawson shows quite a lot of confidence in Bale staying however, as although the club are desperate to keep hold of their star man, Madrid are still in the hunt for the Welshman.
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