Mauricio Pochettino has once again claimed that Tottenham may end the summer without signing a player, but insists he is “not the person to explain it”.
Spurs are the only club in the Premier League not to reinforce their squad this summer, despite continued links with Manchester United forward Anthony Martial, Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish and Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook.
Villa manager Steve Bruce claimed on Friday that Spurs are “nowhere near” Villa’s valuation of Grealish, despite talks taking place throughout the summer.
Pochettino has reiterated his previous comments that Spurs could end the summer window, which closes next week, without making a single transfer, and appeared to hint that chairman Daniel Levy is struggling to get deals over the line.
“Yes. We are working so hard but still we are like it’s the first day of the transfer window – with no signings,” he told a press conference.
“I think I am not the person to explain it.
“Of course, people expect the manager to explain that but, for different reasons, it’s been difficult to add players who can help us. But in the last week many things can happen.”
Pochettino admits that he is not calm about the situation, but believes that he has a back-up plan should Spurs fail to make any additions.
Indeed, the likes of Oliver Skipp and Luke Amos, who were promoted from the Under-21s and impressed on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, may well be called upon, with Pochettino forging a reputation as a coach who brings through young players.
“I’m not relaxed because I’m a coach and you cannot be relaxed,” he added.
“I think you need to be confident and trust in the people we have and the way that we work.
“Of course, football is all about adding more quality every season like our rivals are doing.
“If we cannot do that, we need to try to be creative and, of course, the help of younger players will be amazing and they showed they can help us if, in the end, we cannot sign players.”
Mauricio Pochettino revealed he will not risk the long-term fitness of his World Cup stars and rush them back for Tottenham Hotspur’s first game of the Premier League season – even if supporters are upset by that decision.
Spurs face being without up to nine first-team players – all of whom played in the semi-finals of the World Cup 2018 (and therefore either the final or third-place play-off) – for their opening game against Newcastle United in eight days’ time.
Those nine potential absentees from Russia are not due back in training until five days before the Newcastle game, while Spurs’ preseason tour in the USA has left Victor Wanyama, Moussa Sissoko and Erik Lamela all injured, with Harry Winks also struggling with an ankle problem.
With no new signings to speak of yet – and only six days left of the window – Pochettino is down to the bare bones going into the season but insisted he would refuse to risk the fitness of Hugo Lloris, Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele at St James’ Park.
“On Monday morning they will start their job on the training ground,” said Pochettino following Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over AC Milan in their final preseason match, sealed by Georges-Kevin Nkoudou’s second goal in as many games.
Back in the Champions League after finishing third last term, Spurs have seen fellow top-four side Liverpool spend heavily but are yet to complete any deals of their own.
The lack of activity comes as a surprise given Pochettino has previously urged the club’s hierarchy to be “brave” and “take risks” in order to keep pace with their rivals.