Agree wholeheartedly mate, as long as Ceballos is definitely loan to buy. We can’t be being someone else’s shop window. I suspect we know Eriksen and Toby will likely be sold and are securing our key incomings before signing off on them going out of the door. They won’t be the only departures but they’re where the bulk of our net spend balance will come from. If we get a RB sewn up next then I expect the sales to begin confirming.
A quick wikipedia check suggests Betis only finally signed him from PSG in April. On that basis, I consider it quite ungracious to be going in for him. Similarly for Betis if they are even considering selling him for any reason other than financial trouble (actual, FFP compliance) .
That would depend on the rate of interest being charged. It would also depend on whether they can sell the proposed bonds that the debt seems destined to be converted to. And at what rate,
Sky Sports News: "Spurs, for now, have pulled out of negotiations for Lo Celso but may return later in the window" Meanwhile...
There's suggestions that we're looking to exploit the Chavs' transfer ban by making an offer for Nathan Ake, as they can't execute their buyback clause for him for the next couple of windows meaning other PL clubs have a free run at him While he's obviously not de Ligt, which will no doubt get some people frothing at the mouth, if there's any truth to this there's certainly some legit upsides to this move, namely he;s a proven PL player so there wouldn't be the need for the settling in/acclimatising period, and he'd also help our HG quota - which might be necessary if Trippier is moved on this summer Quite a bit, apparently...
Herrera Watch So much for the monthly HITC piece suggesting we nab him on a free this summer ...although he's no doubt feeling a bit like Jack Clarke, as within three hours of his signing being announced it;s dwarfed by Atleti announcing Joao Felix
Anyone watched the Ndombele interview on the Spurs App? He confirms agents Moussa and Hugo definitely played a part in convincing. Don't suppose all three now fancy having a word with Mbappe by any chance?
Powerful and skilful, Tanguy Ndombélé is perfect for Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham On Monday night, when he was travelling from Paris to London for his medical at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday morning, Tanguy Ndombélé had plenty of time to reflect upon the path which took him from playing football on his council estate block to the Premier League in fewer than five years. There are different ways to make it to the top and the French international midfielder, whose transfer from Lyons for £62.5 million (£54 million fee plus £8.5 million bonuses) will make him Spurs’s record signing, certainly didn’t take the easiest route. He experienced snub after snub from clubs not impressed during trials. He was kicked out of the Guingamp academy because he didn’t have the right attitude. He hardly played at first in the French fifth division because his coach at the time, in the Amiens reserve team, thought he was overweight. Yet, he never gave up. Like so many of his compatriots, the likes of Ngolo Kanté, Laurent Koscielny or Olivier Giroud, to name a few, he kept working hard and believing in his own destiny and ability. He went through the country’s lower leagues, the fifth division then the second, and finally made it with a transfer from Amiens to Lyons two summers ago for £7 million (and a 20 per cent sell-on clause) and now to Tottenham. The Ndombélé story would make a Hollywood blockbuster. It all started 22 years ago in Epinay-sous-Sénart, a tough suburb in the south of Paris. The Ndombélés are a big religious family of Congolese background where values and education are very important. Football very quickly became Tanguy’s obsession in the shadow of Bosso, the oldest of his brothers. For hours and from a very young age, he would play on his council estate, often with kids up to five years older than him. Ndombélé learnt to play football on the streets and you can still see the influence of street football in some of his skills and moves today. It was obvious from a very early age that the young Parisian was more talented than the rest. He is strong, with a wonderful technique, a great touch and a very developed football IQ for his age. What slowed down his progression was his attitude. Once he was released by Guingamp in 2014, he even thought that football was finished for him. After more inconclusive trials with some Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs, he landed at Amiens. There, once he settled in, he would not look back. He was their player of the season when they got promoted to the top flight in 2017. The most impressive trait in Ndombélé is his capacity to raise his game at every challenge. He arrived at Amiens and did not play in the fifth tier? He earned his place in the team eventually. He is called up with the first team squad in Ligue 2 at 20? He will become the club’s best player. He is sold to Lyons, with all the pressure and the expectations that come with it? He smashes it, makes his debut for France in October 2018 (he has now six caps), bosses the midfield against Manchester City in the Champions League or PSG in Ligue 1. The next step was always going to be a big move and he now has it. He will once again have to improve and adapt quickly if he wants to play regularly at Tottenham, who beat top European clubs to sign him. However, there is a reason why Mauricio Pochettino pushed so hard for this deal to happen. The Argentinian is convinced that the Frenchman will fit perfectly in the style of play and the philosophy at Spurs. They had numerous chats together. Pochettino loves Ndombéle’s profile, his physicality but also the great feet and vision that he has. He made him his priority signing this summer for a reason. For the high intensity, powerful game that Tottenham are playing, Ndombélé is a perfect signing. He is a mix of Mousa Dembélé, who Spurs have never replaced since he left in January, and Moussa Sissoko; he can hold the ball and find passes like the Belgian but also make powerful runs with the ball like the Frenchman. Nevertheless, Ndombélé is far from being the finished article. At 22, he still has a lot to learn and a lot to improve on. Consistency was a problem at times last season at Lyons. He didn’t always seem to put the same energy, focus and desire against the smaller sides than against the top clubs when he usually shone. There is also a question mark over his capacity at dealing with his new fame, his price tag, the expectations and the change of culture with everything that it includes. One thing for sure, the Parisian won’t shy away from his responsibilities. His aim is to become the best and that goal has never scared him. Five years ago, he had no club and what looked like no future in football. Now, he is getting ready to take the Premier League by storm. •Julien Laurens in football journalist for Le Parisien
Rumours that Jan would be willing to sign a new two year deal. Thought he’d go back to Ajax next summer so if he’s willing to stay then we have to do our best to make sure of that. Best defender we’ve had since Ledley. Put a blank cheque in front of him and give him a pen, he deserves it.
I remember early Trippier at Spurs. He looked like he'd never even seen a game of football before, let alone played in one. Sure, he had a bad last season but 2015/16 Trippier wouldn't have got within a million miles of an England team, let alone been the best full back at a WC. Likewise, Davies and Rose were so much better after working for Mauricio Pochettino. In fact, losses of form and injuries aside, he gets more out of pretty much everybody. Players that he can't improve don't last beyond their first or very rarely,second season. If they're not working hard to improve, they're gone. Not many players go on to be better than they were when playing for him, either at Spurs or Southampton.
One of my favourite ever players. Would have him here for life but he wants to go back to Ajax at some point.
Rose and Walker improved drastically under his watch. So did Davies. The latter had a poor season due to an ongoing groin injury which has now been corrected by surgery. Excuses can and should be made for Trippier too, although as is well known around here I'll personally never rate him. Aurier is a concern, as is his lack of trust in KWP. I think the single biggest problem faced by our FBs last season was our inability to control the midfield. Walker and Rose at their peak gave the impression of being outrageously talented players (they're both good but not that good) because peak demeble and wanyama ruled the channels with an iron fist and so we effectively had the freedom of the pitch down the flanks. My feeling is though that Pool have set a new benchmark by which attacking FBs are to be measured. TAA and Robertson clocked up an insane amount of assists between them last season, setting a standard that even 2016/17 Walker & Rose came nowhere near.
Juve offer 49.3 Mill for De Ligt i thought this kid would have been causing a tug of war this summer He got first hand experience of our club...will know all about Poch and i think we need a CB
