For anyone wondering, the Allsvenskan is one game in and Helsingborgs won theirs 3-1, beating Norrkoping. They were promoted last season, having been relegated in 2016 and their most senior keeper Par Hansson has been injured since September. They played their opening fixture without a goalkeeper on the bench and with a 21-year-old between the sticks.
Apparently Frenkie De Jong nearly joined us last summer but decided to stay at Ajax for one more season out of loyalty. Spoke highly of Spurs and Pochettino and said the club is on the rise and he would have enjoyed our playing style.
Exodus Watch Reports are saying that U23 centre back Japhet Tanganga has changed his agent and is looking to leave this summer, with his contract expiring at the end of the season
I'm sure we've been linked with Tagliafico; it seems he would fit right in: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/47817030
I know DH is as excited as I am at the prospect of Jack Grealish coming to Spurs to learn from the Hemel Hempstead Messiah himself. It’s probably the only reason young Jack wants to come.
Assuming those with expiring contracts are included, my guesses are: Vorm, Trippier, Aurier, Alderweireld, Rose, Wanyama, Onomah, Lamela, Nkoudou, Eriksen, Janssen, Llorente. Toby and Eriksen are obviously two I think the club don’t want to sell but are in the list for obvious reasons.
If I were to guess, it'll break down like this... Deadwood: Janssen, Nkoudou (although good luck shifting those bloody limpets...) Out of contract: Vorm, Llorente, Ogilvie, Glover Injury ravaged: Wanyama, Lamela, Onomah Let's be honest we all know about the release clause: Alderweireld Not making the grade: Aurier, Carter-Vickers The Standard's list, however, reads like this... Trippier Aurier Rose Alderweireld Janssen Llorente Nkoudou Wanyama Lamela Sissoko Eriksen Vertonghen The fact the first three names on their list include two HG players and both first team right backs makes it suspect, firstly because our issues with using up our non-HG quota is widely known after Poch spoke about it in relation to the squad, and both first team right backs is where it becomes more bollocks - and that's before their overlooking Vorm being out of contract this summer so he'll obviously be off On the other hand, Sissoko being on the list does sound feasible as his transfer value will be at its highest for years off the back of this season and he's three years into his five year contract, so he could certainly raise some capital for a midfield revamp (or, dare I suggest, be used in a swap deal for Ndombele?)
So do those players stop playing now because they know they are not wanted OR play their heart out for a good move?
Widnae, doubt we could afford his wages anyway and I don’t think he fits the profile of what Poch would want. He’s a top bloke by all accounts though and if we wanted a pure no.10 and could adapt to his lack of mobility then he’d be an option.
Vulture Watch As ****ty as it is, we're getting to the time of the season where some players will be considering a summer move in order to remain in the top flight, so with that in mind let's take a shop around the teams whose Premier League relegation has been confirmed Huddersfield Town Aaron Mooy (28yo, Australia, central midfield, contract until 2020 w/option for one more year) Pros: Counts as HG having come through Bolton's academy; Has an impressive workrate; Has a bit of the Scott Parker about him as he can break up play one minute and link up attacking play the next Cons: He'll turn 29 in September so likely doesn't fit Poch's MO; Apart from one standout season in the A-League his record for goals and assists is pretty standard for a lower midtable central midfielder; Can also be described as an older Harry Winks Philip Billing (22yo, Denmark, central midfield, contract until 2020 w/option for one more year) Pros: Was linked with us in Huddersfield's promotion season so might still be on our radar; Has similar physical presence and dribbling ability to Dembele; Capable of passes that Dembele and Sissoko can't pull off; Good workrate and capable of The Press Cons: Would take up a non-HG spot in the squad; Missed a large chunk of last season with an ankle injury; Record for goals and assists is poor Alex Pritchard (25yo, England, attacking midfielder, contract until 2021 w/option for one more year) Pros: Came through our academy so as HG as they come; Set piece threat...until we coach that out of him; Capable of playing anywhere in midfield; Has proven to be a good creative outlet at Norwich and Brentford Cons: Has a history of injuries, which cost him his Spurs career and held up his leaving Norwich by six months last season; His messing around Brighton before signing for Norwich might give Poch reason to look elsewhere; He left Spurs as he couldn't get into the starting team, which begs the question if he'd return knowing full well he won't be after being a starter at Norwich and Huddersfield Fulham Ryan Sessegnon (18yo, England, left back/left wing, contract until 2020 w/option for two more years) Pros: Has been on our radar for some time; Ridiculously good form in the Championship last year with plentiful goals; Has the sort of pace we're looking for down the flanks; Six assists this season counts as 20% of Fulham's league goals; Seems determined to leave this summer; Fulham reportedly set a price of £40m Cons: Didn't reproduce his Championship form in the Premier League this season; Suggestion that any deal for him would have to include his twin brother Steven Jean Michael Seri (27yo, Ivory Coast, central midfield, contract until 2022 w/option for one more year) Pros: Was a monster in midfield for Nice last season; Obvious candidate for the Dembele role with his dribbling ability and physicality; Be honest, we were all frothing at the mouth when he joined Fulham last summer; Surely going to be looking to move with relegation confirmed Cons: Has not lived up to his billing for Fulham this season by any stretch of the imagination; Feeling that his time has passed with the likes of Ndombele coming to prominence; Turns 28 in July Aleksander Mitrovic (24yo, Serbia, striker, contracted until 2023) Pros: Has been on our radar for some time, with us looking at him hen he was still at Anderlecht and making a bid in January; has good experience of English football from his time at Newcastle and Fulham; In spite of Fulham's poor form he's acquitted himself well, scoring 10 of their 30 league goals this season; Has the physicality and aerial prowess that Poch looks for in our bench option striker Cons: Unlikely to want to swap starts for being Harry Kane's understudy, especially knowing how little Janssen or Llorente have played in the last couple of seasons; Has a bit of a nasty streak to him, with him getting into bust-ups in training as well as pick up a bunch of unnecessary bookings and suspensions on the pitch Alfie Mawson (25yo, Wales, centre back, contracted until 2022) Pros: Would count as HG as The FA & FAW have fixed the oversight that means Ben Davies isn't; Good reader of the game; Capable of starting attacks by passing out from the back rather than hoofing it; Has the aerial presence that's been an issue for us this season Cons: Guilty of dozing off and being caught in possession; Would need a pacy defender next to him as he isn't the quickest, as has been exploited more than once this season in Fulham's struggles
In other news Rabiot Watch ...oh ****ing hell Contrary to reports earlier in the week about Los Ladrones reaching a verbal agreement with him, Marca are reporting they have decided to look elsewhere We're going to end up signing him out of embarrassment, aren't we?
