Mauricio Pochettino has suggested he is not to blame for Tottenham’s lack of transfer activity this summer. The Spurs manager is yet to add any new players to his ranks with only seven daysto go until the window closes.
The situation has led to concerns among supporters that the cost of Tottenham’s soon-to-open £850million stadium is prohibiting the Argentine from strengthening a squad which finished third in the Premier League last season – something club officials have denied.
When asked why no new faces had arrived at the club while their top-six rivals have all been busy, Pochettino hinted at factors beyond his control.
‘I think I am not the person to explain this,’ he said. ‘Of course people expect a manager to explain it. But in this situation for different reasons it has been difficult to add players who can help us.’
Spurs are keen on Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish but may have to move players out before they can focus on further incomings with the homegrown quota an issue.
The likes of Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose and Fernando Llorente may depart to make room for fresh blood. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has a reputation for late activity and Pochettino, who sees his nine remaining absent World Cup stars report back for duty on Monday, is expecting a busy few days.
‘You know in the last week many things can happen,’ he added. ‘We are working so hard but still we are like we were on the first day of the transfer window, with no signings.’
Champions Manchester City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal and notably Liverpool have all strengthened and Pochettino is keen for Spurs to do likewise.
‘I am not relaxed,’ he said. ‘I am a coach and when you are a coach you cannot be relaxed. You need to be confident and trust in the people that you have, and the way we work.
‘But of course football is always about adding more quality every season like different clubs, our contenders are doing.’
Should that not happen, he is ready to think outside the box and turn to his youngsters, who impressed during the club’s tour of the US which saw victories over AC Milan and Roma and a penalty defeat to Barcelona.
‘If we cannot do that we need to try to be creative,’ Pochettino said. ‘Of course the help from the younger players would be amazing. They showed they can help us if we don’t sign players.’
Mauricio Pochettino says he has no fears over handing rookie Luke Amos his first-team debut in the Premier League season opener. The Tottenham manager will welcome back nine of his World Cup stars on Monday, just five days before the Saturday lunch-time kick-off at Newcastle United.
Pochettino, who also has to contend with a midfield injury crisis and an as-yet barren transfer window, saw a side featuring six academy products defeat AC Milan 1-0 in Minneapolis to provide a winning end to their US tour.
He then hinted he may throw 21-year-old midfielder Amos, who spent the second half of last season on loan at League Two Stevenage, into the heart of battle when they make the long trek to the North East.
‘I’m in my fifth year, do you think I am going to be scared to play him?’ Pochettino said.
‘The young players maybe don’t have experience because they are young – the compensation is desire and energy. Players like Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, when they were young, showed desire and energy like the young players on the tour.
‘I think you know very well if I believe in someone younger I don’t care about experience or not. Football is about energy – respecting yourself, your team-mates, the team, being professional.
‘Luke Amos is a good example. He played three games (on tour) and maybe he doesn’t have experience of the Premier League but he showed in the three games that this is not a problem. Maybe he’s going to play before a senior player. I am more than brave.’
Spurs defeated Roma 4-1 and lost to Barcelona on penalties before defeating the Italians thanks to Georges-Kevin N’Koudou’s rasping second-half strike.
But while in the US their midfield injury crisis worsened, with Erik Lamela and Moussa Sissoko picking up knocks and Vincent Wanyama heading home early following a recurrence of the knee issue which kept him out for four months last year.
They join Harry Winks on the sidelines while fellow midfielders Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Mousa Dembele report back next week. Pochettino was left to reflect on the positives and negatives.