Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been surprisingly open about his desire to bring new players to the Lane

Published: 7 January, 2014
by DAN CARRIER

SPURS added to their busy fixture list on Monday night as they played out a frustrating 1-1 draw against Burnley in the FA Cup third round. Nacer Chadli opened the scoring for Spurs, but the home team pegged them back with an equaliser through Sam Vokes.

They will now have to face the claret and blues next Wednesday – and if they win, it will mean Mauricio Pochettino’s side will play nine games in January.

The head coach – who made seven changes to the side from their previous match, the 5-3 victory against Chelsea – will have to call on his squad to flex their muscles. It will also give him the chance to give game time to bench-warmers, and it could also have a knock-on effect as to what type of transfer activity takes place this January. 

At a press conference following the 0-0 draw with Manchester United on December 28, the usual managers’ protocol of playing cards close to the chest was accidentally breached. Pochettino was asked if he was going to buy anyone, and, instead of batting away the question, he offered a more fluid: “Perhaps, I am waiting to find out results of some enquiries…”

He didn’t go so far as revealing who the scouts were monitoring, but it seems obvious that with the side competing on four fronts, if fringe players are sold, they will have to be replaced.

Who’s out?

Emmanuel Adebayor has not featured since Spurs lost to Stoke at the Lane at the start of November, and while his wages could be a stumbling block to a transfer, the fact is he hasn’t even been named in squads recently. Notoriously tricky when things aren’t going his way, Pochettino got narky four weeks ago when asked why the Togo forward wasn’t on the bench. Stay or go? Go.

Aaron Lennon (above) has been linked with various mid-table teams. Aged 27, now would be the time to cash in – especially as he has made just eight starts this season, the vast majority being in the Europa League. With Andros Townsend, Erik Lamela and Chadli all ahead of him, it is hardly surprising there are rumours that if someone finds £7m, they can take him. But selling the now-longest serving player in January could be something Spurs live to regret. His few performances have been excellent, he has plenty of experience – he has captained the team in Europa games – and Lennon can be relied on to offer pace and determination if called upon. Stay or go? Stay.

Kyle Naughton has suffered from the fact he joined at the same time as Kyle Walker, and simply hasn’t developed like his fellow full-back. When given the chance, it has often been out of position. With DeAndre Yedlin arriving, it is time for him to find a club where he can make his favoured berth his own. Stay or go? Go.

Younes Kaboul. It is such a shame the French defender bust his knee two years ago. The powerful centre-back has not looked the same since, and it is clear now that Pochettino prefers Federico Fazio and Jan Vertonghen. Even if one should get injured, Eric Dier is waiting in the wings. Kaboul has been a loyal servant and gives Spurs fans much joy (who can forget the header at the Emirates?) but now is the time for pastures new. Stay or go? Go.

Paulinho (above). Spurs thought they’d bought a Brazilian who would offer drive and personality in the middle of the park. Instead, he has drifted, found it hard to impose himself, and it seems his style doesn’t suit Pochettino. With Ryan Mason preferred in his position, Paulinho has cut a forlorn figure, trotting up and down the touchline in his substitute’s bib. Yet, perhaps, there is a way back. Against Chelsea, when he came on in the second half, he slotted in nicely. Stay or Go? Stay.

Roberto Soldado’s much-publicised mega-fee of £26m is not wholly true. Club sources say it is far lower, and the final figure based on certain performance factors being met. Tottenham have had patience with him. He has not only had to contend with a bad attack of the Torres-style yips, he started in a team that was creating few chances, in a formation he wasn’t suited too, and then, when results began to pick up, was dropped in favour of a saluting Adebayor by Tim Sherwood. Daniel Levy would want a hefty fee for a man who two years ago was a La Liga hotshot – and would Spurs find a suitable replacement now? Possibly not. Stay or go? Stay – until the summer.

Mousa Dembele (above). He has lost his starting place to the youngster Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason, but with Mason injured and Bentaleb representing Algeria at the African Cup of Nations, now is the classy Belgian’s chance to show Pochettino he is buying into the philosophy. Stay or go? Stay.

Coming in?

Spurs have been linked with numerous players.

Everton’s eye-catching midfielder James McCarthy is apparently on the radar – but with Everton struggling, would Roberto Martinez really sanction a sale when it looks like Ross Barkley could be the subject of a whopping bid by Manchester City?

We’ve heard plenty about PSG’s Adrien Rabiot. A talented midfielder, he has fallen out of favour with PSG coach Laurent Blanc and apparently Spurs are ready to sign him. But it seems the deal will be a six-month loan with no option to sign him permanently after – not usually the type of deal Levy would sanction. Reports from reputable newspapers in France say it is on, but nothing has been confirmed.

Swansea’s forward Wilfred Bony (above) was eyed up in the summer, but now, with a good autumn under his belt, teams happy to pay much more than Spurs are circling. While he would be a certain starter, and lessen the burden on Harry Kane, it is not like Levy to get into a bidding war and pay inflated prices because others are in the hunt. If he goes to Manchester City, as rumoured, how about a cheeky bid for their forward Eden Dzeko?

Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph has been winning rave reviews for performances in a struggling side – and with his contract ticking down, it wouldn’st need a huge fee to prise him away from Villa Park. Spurs are well stocked with central midfielders, but if Paulinho and Dembele were to leave, expect Delph to become a top target.