Tottenham Hotspur football club chairman Daniel Levy has taken a lot of criticism, and deservedly so, from fans over the past year and a half as the club has done absolutely nothing in the transfer market during that period of time.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino has been a trooper during it all, and he’s been able to consistently win, despite lacking the support of substantial transfer funds. Sure, they fell short in the Champions League final, but in advancing that far Tottenham showed that they are indeed a club that’s on the rise.
Now reports indicate that Pochettino will be backed heavily in the summer transfer window, as Levy is finally now ready to spend again.
The Daily Mirror reports on four Spurs transfer targets: Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, midfielder Tanguy Ndombele of Lyon, Fulham winger Ryan Sessegnon and Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez.
According to the Mirror, Tottenham have already had big money bids for the first two players turned down, but Levy is notorious for his hardball negotiating tactics, so that’s not surprising.
It could still be awhile before a transfer is signed, sealed and delivered, due to the style that Levy employs when he does his wheeling and dealing.
Lo Celso has the primary player linked to Spurs this silly season while Sessegnon is reportedly a long time target who is also wanted by Manchester United.
After the 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the UCL final, a match that was a lot more boring than it sounds, Pochettino discussed being hamstring financially, certainly so when in comparison to his big money European rivals.
“We are a team that has priorities that is shared with the stadium. We looked at the quality of our players in the final but it would have been incredible to win and lift the trophy,” Pochetitno said.
“It would have been something that would have surprised people because in the last five years Tottenham prioritized their stadium and spent zero on transfers. We’re not the smartest in the class, but not the stupidest either.
“But it is incredible and this club deserves a lot of credit. The fanbase deserves a lot of credit. Hopefully it will be the beginning of a very successful period for the club.”
-Elsewhere, United are/were after a Tottenham Hotspur defender, maybe, and this time it’s not Toby Alderweireld. United, perhaps as part of the theory that they should shop domestically, wanted Spurs right back Kieran Trippier, but found a deal wasn’t going to happen, and hence they’ll now turn to Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka instead.
Here’s a link to more on that.
Coming back full circle, bringing it around again to the Daily Mirror, the newspaper claims that Juventus are ready to rekindle their interest in Trippier again. The Englishman impressed a lot at the World Cup last summer, but struggled mightily last season.
Maybe a fresh start, at a place where they are installing a fresh manager in Chelsea’s Maurizio Sarri, could be the best thing for him?
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.