Poch delivers reality check about January transfer dealings

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has delivered a reality check to fans by suggesting that the club have to sell players before they are able to add to their squad this month.

It has been well publicised that Tottenham’s squad at the moment is bloated and the number of available squad spaces available is sparse given that the club is also struggling to fulfil the homegrown player criteria.

Spurs have been linked with a whole host of names in January and have been rumoured to have lodged enquiries for players across different European leagues. However, to bring their targets in, the club has to first find buyers for players who have been deemed surplus to requirements like Fernando Llorente, Vincent Janssen and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou.

Speaking ahead of Spurs’ FA Cup third round opener away to League Two’s Tranmere Rovers this evening, Pochettino told the Irish Mirror: “In case we don’t sell players, it’s impossible to bring players [in]. And to find the capacity to bring [players in]”.

“Of course, we are going to create again the system to work in the last part of the season in the best way, trying to give our best for this club.”

Tottenham became the first club since the inception of the transfer window to have not added to their squad last summer and when quizzed on the possibility of not making any signings this month, the Argentine seemed fairly relaxed.

He said: “I would not be disappointed. I know very well that January is always difficult”.

“In the same way, if you find some player, look what happened to different players that arrive in January. Last season. It takes time to understand and to perform, to fit with the team. Sometimes it’s better not to sign if you don’t find the right player. Sometimes it’s better for the team spirit. But not in general.”

Tottenham fans will be hoping the club is able to get one or two players this month particularly in areas like centre midfield where the squad to down to its bare bones owing to injuries.

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