Tottenham Hotspur legend Gary Stevens says recruitment is key for the club to reach the next level, but warned signing megastars such as Gareth Bale might not be the answer.

Despite losing last season's Champions League final to Liverpool, Spurs undoubtedly elevated their status among Europe's elite clubs.

The North London outfit knocked out Manchester City and a rampant Ajax on their way to the final, while also finishing third in the Premier League, all without signing a single player in either transfer window.

Stevens was part of Spurs' last European success when they won the 1984 UEFA Cup, and he told Tribalfootball.com that Mauricio Pochettino's side should settle for nothing less than ending the club's continental drought.

He said: "I think if you look back at the Champions League final two seasons ago when Liverpool got beaten, one year later they're in the Champions League final against Spurs and they win it. So surely that has to be the target for Spurs.

"Mauricio Pochettino has done a fantastic job since he's been there. It's been progress after progress after progress each season. I don't think [it's coming to an end] why should it be?

"They've now got the new stadium which I actually went to and watched the Champions League final on the big monitors with sixty thousand other Spurs fans.

"It was a buzz and I wanted to see the facilities and the facilities are second to none, so Spurs are really geared up now to be competing at the highest level of the English Premier League and of European football in my opinion."

Spurs splurged £67m on highly-rated France international midfielder Tanguy Ndombele last month, with £20m also spent on teenager Jack Clarke, who was immediately loaned back to Leeds United.

While the signing of Ndombele for a club-record fee has garnered excitement from supporters, some have argued it will not be enough to close the gap on Manchester City and Liverpool, who Spurs finished 25 points behind last season.

Stevens believes that while spending big money is necessary for modern clubs, it is imperative that money is used on the right players, using Liverpool's acquisition of Virgil van Dijk as a prime example.

Asked how Spurs take the club to the next level, Stevens said: "It's recruitment. That's the truth of it.

"I say recruitment as opposed to spending big money because you know you don't have to necessarily spend huge money to get the right players.

"But the truth of the matter is, spending huge money can get you that right player instantly.

"Let me suggest somebody who Liverpool signed in Virgil van Dijk. I would suggest he was probably the biggest cog in the works as to why Liverpool had the season that they had last season in the league and Champions League, of course there's a lot of good players in their squad as well.

"So they spent 70 odd million but they still had to spend that 70 odd million on the right player. They could have spent that type of money on another central defender and it wouldn't have been the right central defender. So recruitment is key.

"I think since Pochettino has been at the club, generally speaking, his recruitment has been very good. Every club, every manager has a few misses along the way as well, Vincent Janssen for example didn't work out, but that's what it's about. It's about getting in the right player, with the right ability, and with the right character and personality as well."

One player constantly linked with Tottenham this summer has been Gareth Bale.

Real Madrid are desperate to sell the Wales international after his disagreements with manager Zinedine Zidane.

But suitors have been scarce due to Bale's exorbitant wages, which reportedly exceed £350,000-a-week after tax.

A reunion with Spurs, where Bale spent four magnificent seasons before joining Real in 2013, has been mooted.

It remains an unlikely reality for a number of reasons, and Stevens says Bale's arrival could "unsteady" the Tottenham dressing room.

When asked if the club should sign Bale, Stevens replied: "Personally no I don't.

"Gareth Bale is a wonderful player. He had a huge impact at Spurs before he left, he's had a huge impact at Real Madrid. I personally think with the way Pochettino works, although he's got some highly talented players in his squad and some what I would call big stars football wise, he doesn't have that mega star as such.

"Harry Kane, for the great time he has had, the goals he has scored his career, he is so down to earth it is untrue. And I'm not saying for one minute Gareth Bale isn't. I just think that because of his status and the money associated with him, I think he might just unsteady the ship a little bit, that would be my thought.

"Again I don't think Bale has a huge ego, but the perception of him is maybe that the way is has destabilised Real Madrid a little bit. The head coach wants him out, the president wants him out, the fans don't like him but have a look at what he did for the club!

"I don't think there are too many clubs in the world where his wage structure would work. I think that's the problem."

Gary Stevens is currently the Head Coach of the Black Mountain Hua Hin Academy in Thailand. You can read Gary's website by clicking on the link here.