Nobody knows better than Tottenham Hotspur the benefits that can come from European qualification, and the offer of Champions League football may significantly aid them in their transfer pursuits this summer.
The North Londoners will know that Europa League glory does not change their miserable domestic season, and Ange Postecoglou’s sacked successor will look to get some major deals over the line once the window reopens on June 16.
Remarkably, Spurs’ 17th-placed Premier League finish does not make them the lowest-ranking side to qualify for Europe, as all of three sides have qualified for a European competition despite relegation from the Premier League in the 21st century (Ipswich Town, Birmingham City and, most famously, Wigan Athletic).
As Spurs look to close in on a major transfer target, they will know that they can offer him his dream at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has a European dream
Antoine Semenyo has already attracted a lot of interest this summer, one of several of Andoni Iraola’s record-breaking Bournemouth side who have been linked with a move away. The Cherries could demand a £65m price tag for the winger.
Speaking with the Bournemouth Echo in April, the 25-year-old spoke of how to play in Europe is a huge ambition of his.
“It’s been such a good season. I’ve never ever been in a situation where you’re competing for Europe or trying to get European places.
“So for me personally, it’s very, very new. I think as a team, I feel like we’ve got the potential, we’ve got the talent in the team, so it was never in doubt that we would start pushing up the table.
Asked about what European qualification would mean to him, Semenyo said: “Definitely it would be great.
“It’ll cap off a good season. I feel like we’ve had such a great season. I feel like everyone thinks it’s a small club and we’ve proved a lot of people wrong.
“So, if we can get the European places, I think that’ll be the cherry on top.”
Spurs’ Europa League win could give them the upper hand
It is ironic that the team rivalling Spurs most closely for the signing of Semenyo is none other than their beaten Europa League final opponents Manchester United, suggesting that things could have been so very different had it not been for Brennan Johnson’s fortuitous first-half strike in Bilbao.
United have a pull which remains regardless of Europe but the Red Devils may have their sights set on Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford, leaving Spurs with the perfect opportunity to swoop in and get their man.
Semenyo may not have achieved European qualification in the end with the Cherries, but he may still get to fulfil his ambition.