Tottenham started their summer recruitment drive with the £4 million signing of Austria centre-back Kevin Wimmer from Cologne.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has highlighted defence as one of the areas where his team needs to improve next season and he has moved quickly to sign 22-year-old Wimmer on a five-year deal.

Pochettino gave spells to Vlad Chiriches, Younes Kaboul, Federico Fazio and Eric Dier alongside the near ever-present Jan Vertonghen, but Spurs looked weak at the back last year.

Despite qualifying for the Europa League, Spurs had the joint-fifth worst defensive record in the Premier League last season, conceding 53 goals in 38 matches.

Wimmer is looking forward to the challenge of breaking into Tottenham’s first team.

He told Cologne’s website: “Tottenham is a huge chance for me. Nonetheless, it won’t be easy saying goodbye to Cologne.

“I experienced wonderful mo-ments here, such as the promotion and the Klassenerhalt (staying up). I want to thank the training staff, my team-mates, and all those involved in the club for their extraordinary support.”

Pochettino is expected to add further names to his squad this summer.

The Spurs boss has been linked with players like Danny Ings and Morgan Schneiderlin as he looks to turn Tottenham into serious challengers for Champions League qualification next season.

Chairman Daniel Levy insists he will leave it up to the Argentinian to decide who comes and goes at White Hart Lane this close season.

“As has always been the case the coach always makes the final decision,” Levy said in a Facebook Q&A session with fans.