Damping Expectations Watch Since I spotted at least one headline suggesting that Levy has suggested that we wouldn't be doing a lot of business in the January window, I'll just try and get ahead of it in case the usual suspects on Twitter and Reddit blow it up First of all, the comments were made in a meeting with the THST, which I'll include here If you don't want to doomscroll through the whole thing, here's the specific section Kevin Fitzgerald asked if the creation of the Football Board had resulted in many changes relating to football strategy and recruitment. Daniel Levy responded it was mainly the same with Steve Hitchen coordinating with the manager, with input from Trevor Birch and Rebecca Caplehorn. DL may have some involvement, depending on the scenario. Fitzgerald congratulated the Club’s Board on the highly successful transfer window just gone. It was very different from a number of windows in the past. How was this possible with COVID-19, the new stadium to pay for etc.? Levy cautioned against judging past performance on future strategy. He felt this had been a window where the Club had acted decisively. The Club had been fortunate to achieve what it set out to achieve but there would be other times when this wasn’t possible. Fitzgerald asked how it was possible to complete the signings earlier than usual. Levy said that José Mourinho had been very clear and very decisive in terms of targets and they entered the window with a clear idea of what they wanted to achieve. Fitzgerald referenced the large squad at Spurs and the number of players out on loan. Would there be an objective in January to move players on? Levy felt it was unfair to talk about transfers out and was keen to manage expectations for January in terms of incomings and outgoings, it would be similar for other clubs too. The last part is likely the most relevant here, because if we are looking to spend in January we have two options Option A: sign HG players, such as the recently-linked Sean Longstaff or James Tavernier Option B: sell some non-HG players to free up space, with Gazzaniga the obvious candidate (while Sanchez has been linked with Milan, although it was by The Sun so they probably just got around to watching All Or Nothing...) And that's the point, it's not like Levy is going to tell the THST "Oh sure, once we sell Gazzaniga we'll sign Skriniar/Milenkovic/Kessie/whoever" but, by the same token, if he did say that would anyone not think that was a dick move?
Terrible news: Fabrizio Romano now has a Patreon, which means if you want to get the good stuff you literally have to pay for it instead of just copy/pasting his tweets Why do I mention this? Well somebody who is paying for it says that Romano is reporting Son is close to signing a five-year extension
Based on how the squad is shaping up, my money’s on one of Winks or Dele definitely leaving in January, maybe both but I can’t see it, especially due to HG/ CG numbers. Sanchez possibly, as once Rodon is registered for Europa it’s hard to see where Sanchez will get much game time. Rose, Gazzaniga and Gedson all to obviously leave too. Loans for Austin, Cirkin, White and Clarke would be good and a recall for Roles to go somewhere better. In terms of incomings, I’m hoping we can add a DM to backup Hojbjerg. Ideally someone on a short contract, 6 or 18 months so that it doesn’t stifle Skipp’s progression. If someone on an 18 month deal, it might be good to see if Skipp could stay at Norwich for another season, especially if they come up.
I'd agree with most of this, barring the Winks and Alli stuff. There's no value in moving them on during the current situation and we'll struggle to replace them. I'd add Lamela to the list of possible transfers out, though. We've got a ton of players in his role and he's just too injury prone. It's a real shame, as I love his attitude and application, but he's constantly missing and he's taking up a non-HG place, too. Replacing Gazzaniga will be tough. I think that we need someone better than Hart as backup to Lloris, but who'll take it? Some hack's linked us with Donnarumma on a free this summer! Fat chance of that one, I'm afraid.
Vulture Watch So Inter finished bottom of their CL group, and with Conte continuing to get the worst out of a whole chunk of his squad by placing his system above the players at his disposal, there is a window of opportunity to go back in for Skriniar next month Obviously we'd need to create a Non-HG spot in the squad to do that, but there's a couple of options there - Gazzaniga looks certain to leave sooner or later, and at this point it's worth asking if he's being frozen out for torpedoing a potential move in the summer - Sanchez to Milan rumours are picking up momentum, with CalcioMercato picking up on them in the last two days (which is still a more trusted source than Murdoch's Hate Comic...) and he's reportedly keen to move if he can be guaranteed first team football Of course, if both leave in January this would leave us with a Non-HG spot going spare, so assume another 37 articles linking us with Franck Kessie if that happens...
Skriniar Watch On the left is Steve Hitchen. On the right is Skriniar's agent Mithat Halis please log in to view this image However, there's one additional thing to consider: Halis is also a partner of the Stars & Friends agency which, cringy name aside, is an agency whose clients tend to be Slovakian, Hungarian or Austrian - with one notable exception: Wout Weghorst
That picture was from the summer unfortunately. I remember it going round a bit and it’s why a lot thought Skriniar might actually happen back then.
Yet another reason why people should stop calling Di Marzio a Tier 1 source, then Also a reason to point out to Reddit users that Tier 1 means official sites or Twitter feeds only, and as we support Tottenham Hotspur and not Tottenham Di Marzio...
Looks like Jack Grealish is a prize **** off the field. Perhaps that is why no-one ever buys him. Probably end up at PSG.
Everton being linked with both Dele and Winks. Said a few days back I fancy one to leave (loan or sold) but can't see both going due to HG numbers, unless we bring someone in or White gets a promotion (he won't need to be registered still though so we could still bring someone in). Wouldn't mind going for JWP just for his set pieces alone, that Bale freekick the other week aside our corners and freekicks have been gash for far too long. Jose actually said Winks has spoken to him about a lack of minutes so he might be the frontrunner to go. Guy must be getting angry he's not being allowed to pass it backwards and commit needless fouls.
what makes Winks think he deserves game time? Every game has a reason...he just can’t step it up to the new raised bar. we got to stick through this...that bar can’t drop...the players have to rise or Exit once again it’s no coincidence to me that Poch’s darlings are getting the chop...too many were sat on their laurels...I get the sense that they thought they had done it because our success is so low over the years that a bit of improvement looked like a lot. I can’t see him becoming Modric or anyone else, he will be what he is...I’m not going to be too bothered if he goes so long as Jose gets to re invest. If home grown is the sentiment then he should just become a ball boy
He never reached the old bars under Poch! It's why it's been so annoying seeing him play so much over these past few years. Jose's just finally doing what Poch should've done - and what Poch did do when he first took over Spurs - and that's binning/ dropping the utter dross we've carried for far too long.
"Errm..." Watch Duncan Castles ...stopped reading already, huh? I don't blame you Anyway, he reports we're after a pacey CB and a box-to-box midfielder in January. In other words, prepare yourself for the next glut of Franck Kessie headlines while also pointing out that Sanchez is a pacey CB - as well as noticing that Skriniar isn't
