Mauricio Pochettino has hinted that Tottenham are likely to enter into the transfer market and make some substantial inroads only in the final few days. Spurs have recovered their form and are just one place behind the top four. However, there has always been the need for more players in the Spurs team in order to encounter games from three different competitions.
The FA Cup is set to start soon and Spurs are likely to have this competition in mind. It would have to be focused along with the Europa League knockout stages. Unlike in the last few seasons, Spurs cannot afford to take the Europa League lightly since it now offers a viable chance to get into the group stages of the Champions League. For this reason, strengthening the squad with the addition of a couple of players could help the team go much further ahead into the season.
Pochettino admitted that it has always been difficult to improve the squad in January. However, it should not prevent Spurs from even trying. The manager has given the biggest hint that Spurs may be prepared to wait until the last day in order to secure signings on a bargain. The club waited on Sissoko with a similar thought only to shell out £30 million. Pochettino was quoted by the Sky Sports saying;
“Maybe on the last day, maybe. It’s like before.
“It’s too difficult to improve your squad in January, for all the club. I don’t expect too much movement.
“I am happy with the squad. At the same time I recognise it is always very difficult to improve the squad in January.”
Spurs collapsed towards the end of last season and ended up finishing third in the league table when it seemed that the second place seemed destined for the club. As a result, they finished once again behind rivals Arsenal. Pochettino has to avoid a similar collapse at all costs, and one of the ways is by strengthening the team.
The club has been linked with Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace in the last few weeks. The England winger is reportedly unhappy at Selhurst Park, and the arrival of Sam Allardyce is expected to only accelerate his exit away from the relegation threatened club. He is expected to cost in the region of £15 million, although some reports have even indicated that Tottenham are preparing a £25 million bid to complete the move after failing in their attempts to sign him in the summer. Daily Star reports that Palace rejected Tottenham’s £15m and £18m bids during the summer window.
Spurs spent £70 million in the summer on new players like Vincent Janssen, Victor Wanyama, and Moussa Sissoko. Apart from Wanyama and Sissoko, most of those names have been extremely poor. There is a lot of cash crunch at the club due to the extravagant construction work for the new stadium. Being built at a cost of £600 million, this new stadium is expected to be ready for the 2018-19 season. Spurs are unlikely to spend more than £20 million in January, and Zaha could be a good fit for the situation.
