Not an update, but an observation: with Lo Celso playing on the right for Argentina the other day and linking up with Messi like the two had been playing together for years, I have to wonder if Poch's having similar ideas and sees him in a similar role for us If he does, then the talk of both Lo Celso and Fernandes starts to make sense as opposed to the assumption it was one or the other, because if that is the case it would be possible to have them both on the pitch at the same time in both a 4231 and a 433
I agree. I think we want Lo Celso regardless. Fernandes is another addition when we lose Eriksen, IMO. Let’s hope we can secure both players
Signing just one of Ndombele/ Lo Celso/ Fernandes would be huge for the club. Signing two... I’ll be getting the vaseline out.
Madness to sell Rose, he’s one of the best LBs in the league when he’s on form and he’s managed to work his way back towards that state towards the end of this season. Unless we have someone like Chilwell lined up to replace him - which would be at considerable cost I would add - I think this would be a step in the wrong direction for no reason.
Think he’s playing for a new contract tbh. Based on the last few months of the season, I’d say he deserves one. Edit: unless the club really do believe Sessegnon is our long term LB yet good enough to play almost immediately (I’d expect Davies to start off as first choice with Sessegnon taking over) should we sign him.
That’s possibly true but as you say he deserves one if it’s the case. Even if we get Sessegnon and decide he’s the LB option rather than further forward in the long term, I’d be selling Davies out of the two of our incumbent LBs! Also not sure what this “club policy” he mentions is, first we’ll have seen of it if true
He said it was selling players who had got to a certain age. I don't know whether that is or was ever true, but Danny Rose obviously thinks that it is. However,... Christian Eriksen wants to go to Madrid but we supposedly made him a very good offer to stay and he hasn't discounted it; Toby wants more money than we'll pay but we were willing to offer a new deal and nobody's chasing him out of the club; Mousa Dembele's fitness had got to a point where all concerned knew it was time, Mousa more than most; Mitch Vorm has been overtaken by Paolo Gazzanigga and isn't going to get game time. Are we moving them on to obtain a fee or has the time come to part ways? It's notable that Fernando Llorente's departure hasn't been confirmed anywhere, as yet.
As I said I think he's playing for a new deal. He's finished the season strongly and showed he's back to being one of the best LBs in the Prem. Unlike when he gave that dickhead interview in the summer of 2017 where he was still injured, he knows that a club like Utd would happily double his salary (which in football terms, is currently very low for a CL calibre defender) but I think he'd rather stay at Spurs so long as he got what he felt was just for someone of his calibre. Dilemna for Spurs to be honest. Give a big pay day to a soon to be 29 year old who's had their fair share of injuries but is one of the best when fit? Or cash in on him (last chance too really) and sign a good enough replacement with years in the tank?
Yeah it is a bit of a dilemma, but there’s not exactly a surfeit of young LBs around and Rose is valuable to us. Presuming the demands aren’t astronomical and they fit in the structure I can’t see why we wouldn’t give him a bump - after all, paying him a bit more for another two or three years will be cheaper if anything than spending big on an equivalent LB who after all would expect a decent wage packet anyway. It’s clearly an age-related policy he references and I don’t get it, considering we signed Llorente and there are players older than Danny who haven’t been moved on ego like him are in and around the first XI
He also seems to be ignoring the fact that he publicly stated he wanted leave a couple of seasons back, when he threw his toys out of the pram after Walker left. I personally hope he stays, he's still the best in his position, and a great servant to the club despite his dips. He is one of my favourite players. It would have been super sweet if he had won the Champions League before many who jumped ship to 'win things'. Shame it wasn't to be.
I suppose it also depends on what Danny’s after. Does he deserve a rise? In footballing terms absolutely, he’s a top four LB being paid a mid-table wage. The bigger question though is how long does he want what is likely his last big payday? 2-3 years is great because I think that’s exactly how much longer he has at this level. If he’s pushing for 4+ years, it isn’t ideal for the club as by the time he’s 31/32 I can’t realistically see him being as effective in a position that generally suits a younger player in this day and age.
Right Back Watch Having not been linked with one for a few weeks, now we are: Hiroki Sakai of Marseille Yes, the same Marseille who ****ed us over twice in the same transfer window with Batshuayi and GKN Yes, the same Hiroki Sakai who turns 30 next April Yes, the same Hiroki Sakai who we could've got for free in 2016 Suffice to say I can't see this one happening...
I think that our best right back option is likely to be Juan Foyth with Steven Sessegnon coming in as a development project for a year or two down the line. The coming season's make or break for KWP too. He needs regular top level football but we've not been giving it to him. 25% played there against Liverpool and Citeh away and was our best player both times and very impressive. He's got PL experience but not ready to play centre back yet and is too good a footballer not to have in the team. I can't see that we'll have the money for Wan Bissaka as a cash only purchase, given our pressing needs elsewhere. It's possible that Palace might want KWP or someone else on the fringes of our squad. Buying someone from abroad, who's progressed to a point where they're not going to improve further, makes no sense to me given what MP does best.
If Danny Rose wants to stay, Spurs should let him. Not sure what he earns but he's worth every penny. After the turmoil of the previous season, he did very well to sort himself out. He should be rewarded for that.
I think RB is our second biggest concern so it’s a position I wouldn’t be against spending big on. Especially if we can shift both Trippier and Aurier. Would happily spend £50m on AWB if I were in charge, I think they’d sell for that, despite reports of wanting £60m.
I can see us getting outbid by one of the Manchester clubs (if they enter the bidding) or Chelsea, if they worm their way to suspending the transfer ban. Azpilucueta and Zappacosta aren't up to it and they'll be spending serious money if they can, as they'll end up with a 3 window ban after refusing their medicine this summer.. I'm not sure that he'd make as much difference to us, if playing Foyth, as would result from spending the money on a couple of top notch central midfielders. If we can only afford Lo Celso and Ndombele and nobody else, I'd spend the money there in a heartbeat. That level of player would make a bigger difference to us next season. If we can have them plus another player, it'd depend on Toby's future as to where I'd spend that extra money. If he leaves, we look short of a high quality centre half.
