When it comes to transfers this summer, Tottenham Hotspur they have generally adopted a buy first, sell later policy. With six signings already secured, they have completed most of the first part of that equation.
This means that much of the focus is now on the second part, which will reduce the wage bill. It will also ensure that the team is not bloated and rid you of disgruntled players once the season starts.
This is proving to be a complicated task. The lack of funds available to clubs in most leagues outside of England in a post-COVID world makes selling to countries like Spain and Italy much more difficult than it used to be. The salaries of many Spurs players are also problematic, and that’s even before transfer fees are discussed.
With the season starting early and five rounds of Premier league games before the window closes, some players also feel that there is a lot of room for their situation to change and they don’t want to rush into making a move.
Despite that, some progress is being made. Here the athletic breaks down the player situations Tottenham hope to move forward with before the end of August…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sh2pDtaTIC
First of all, it has to be said that there are some players that Spurs are determined to move on and others that would agree to leave because of the need to reduce the size of the squad.
In the first camp are the quartet of players left behind from the tour of South Korea: Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombelé, harry winks Y Sergio Reguilon.
Starting with Lo Celso, Villarreal – where the midfielder impressed during a loan spell during the second half of last season – and Fiorentina are among the clubs vying for his signature. Spurs are asking for around €20m (£16.8m), which is less than half of what they paid for him and partly reflects how much the market has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Which leads to perhaps the most pre-pandemic signing of all: Ndombele for £55m with big salaries and a six-year deal. Ndombele still has three years left on his contract and finding a buyer has proven impossible in the previous two summer windows since he joined the club. That’s likely to be the case again over the next month, which means another loan is the most likely option. Milan He looked at the midfielder but was put off by his salary, while Marseille are among the interested clubs, although nothing particularly advanced at the moment.
The Winks situation is at a similar stage, with no deal imminent. Everton have regressed and although there was a tentative interest in Leeds United, which is not expected to go further. With more than a month of window remaining, many buying clubs are still evaluating their options.
There is also the problem for several clubs of not being able to make transfers until they know the future of the players who could move on. This is the case of Seville, who are interested in bringing Reguilón back on loan with an obligation to buy. Talks about Reguilon are still ongoing, but before they can sign Sevilla must finalize the sale of centre-back Jules Kounde, who is expected to join. Barcelona.
Far from that quartet are the players that Conte likes, but he accepts that they can leave if Tottenham receives a suitable offer.
Japheth Tanganga is in this category and is attracting the interest of Milan. The two clubs were in talks with Tottenham general manager of football Fabio Paratici in Milan last week, but for now Tanganga is more of an opportunity than a priority for the Italian club. And they would prefer a loan with an option to buy (for less than the €20m ($16.8m) Spurs are seeking). The extent to which Milan push for Tanganga may depend on whether they can bring Eintracht Frankfurtof Evan Ndicka, who has become a key target.
Japhet Tanganga is attracting interest from Milan and Bournemouth (Photo: James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
Bournemouth, What the athletic has previously reportedthey also maintain an interest in Tanganga and have made inquiries about the defender.
Spurs are also open to selling their fellow defender. Joe Rodonalthough, like Tanganga, Conte is a fan of the player’s attitude and application. Fulham are among the clubs interested, with the possibility of a loan given the player’s contract does not expire until 2025. If he were to leave permanently, Spurs would want to get back the £11m they paid swansea two years ago.
Bryan Gil He would also be allowed to go out on loan again. He spent the second half of last season at Valencia, who are interested in getting him back if he can sell Goncalo Guedes.
Then there is the unresolved situation on the right side. With the arrival of djed spenceone of Emerson Royal or matt doherty needs to be sold. The former makes more sense given that at 23, he is seven years Doherty’s junior and would attract a much higher fee but, like the Irishman, he is eager to stay and fight for his place. Doherty also has the advantage of being comfortable playing down the left.
As it stands, neither player is close to leaving and it may take those first few games of the season for clarity to emerge on who is most likely to compete with Spence (and possibly lucas moura) for the rear right slot.
Either way, the Spurs have a lot of work to do to ensure that the second part of the buy-first-sell-later policy works as well as the first.
(Additional Contributors: Jack Pitt-Brooke, James Horncastle)
(Top photo: Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)