We are now 11 days into the January transfer window and much like other windows all things are quiet at Hotspur Way when it comes to players joining. As for players leaving we have seen winger N’Koudou depart on loan to Burnley, a move good for all concerned – he suits their counter attack football with his pace – it suits him as he needs regular games in England top flight – suits us as could help him develop into a player worthy of his spot in our squad. Also, his loan move opens a space in our Champions League squad for a non home grown player which will no doubt be filled by the returned Erik Lamela.
We are also in the market to find homes for several other players in our squad who are not getting games, some of the youngsters. Kyle Walker-Peters being one who is being heavily linked with a loan move, several Premier League teams are interested but guarantees about game time a sticking point. Also Pochettino likes keeping him on hand and has named him on the bench on numerous occasions this season due to his ability to cover LB as well as his specialist RB position.
Also in this window we will likely see the departure of academy forward Ryan Loft. A talented youngster who has been on trial at Exeter and word is will not be getting a new deal when his existing contract expires in the summer of 2018 due to other players coming through who are at his level or surpassing.
Of course, in addition to players leaving the club we have also, arguably, missed out on a long term target already this window in the form of former Everton midfielder Ross Barkley.
He signed for Chelsea recently in a £15m deal which left many Spurs fans scratching their heads. We were clearly fans of his and after him for some time so why, when only £15m for a 24yr old did we pull out? Simply put, the deal was NOT just £15m – as revealed in a Telegraph article to secure the deal Chelsea paid the players agent a one off fee of £7m. Yes, £7,000,000 paid to an agent. People say money has ruined football, no, agents have ruined football.
The club were very quick (as per my last blog post) to play down our interest in Barkley and talk up the fact we had decided to move on to other targets. One target the press believe we are after is Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes. However despite rumours circulating about him daily here in the UK in Spain, nothing of note about his future or any potential move.
Another player the press link us with daily is Fulhams exciting youngster Ryan Sessegnon.
The 17 year old England youth international has continued to develop playing week in and out in the Championship and is likely the most sought after English player currently. However, despite the constant links and most Spurs fans all keen on this it is not happening, in January anyway.
The young mans chairman at Fulham in a press conference yesterday (10th January) made it clear to everyone he is not leaving the club this window / this season as they see him a key to their push for promotion.
It makes perfect sense for Fulham, right now they are competing in the play off places and have a real shot at earning promotion – which if they do they would hope to keep Ryan. If however they fall short then in the summer they are likely to have to allow him to leave.
Many Spurs fans, me included, following Pochettino’s comments about doing business early had hoped we would see a Dele Alli type of deal being done for him, but these quotes from their chairman seem to put a end to that option also.
So, with all of the rumours seemingly dead is this going to be another winter window like the others under Pochettino? In fact, unless my memory is wrong I do not think he has signed anyone in January since he became our manager.
My opinion is the only way we will see incoming is if we see a player leave. The reason for this I think is the Champions League squad. We need to sign a player classed as home grown (Zaha is classed as home grown fyi but that is damn unlikely) as any player non HG cannot be registered for the Champions League – unless we dropped someone else.
In a perfect scenario Sissoko would move on and a player brought in who can add to the squad, improve it and take that spot but again this is looking unlikely in January.
I think the best we can hope for is the club try and steal a march on rivals and tie up deals for star players and look to get summer signings agreed for targets now.
-SJ