There has been very little transfer activity at Tottenham Hotspur over the course of the January transfer window but things look set to step up a gear ahead of Monday’s deadline day.
Spurs manager Antonio Conte has publicly expressed his frustration at a lack of signings this month and with time running out, he is keen to make the most of the next week.
The club remain heavily linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore and have recently had a £15 million bid rejected, according to Sky Sports, and now Conte is keen to free up more funds in order to help them with their attempts to secure the Spaniard.
And to do that, the Italian is keen to offload five players this month in the hope of signing other players, too.
Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Dele Alli were all left out of the squad for Sunday’s game with Chelsea, as Conte shows his intention, while Matt Doherty and Joe Rodon are also in line for potential exits this month.
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According to the Times, Conte is willing to depart with all five of the aforementioned players over the next week but with very little time left of the January window, it may prove difficult.
Ndombele clearly has no future at the club and is destined for a move away this month, although Spurs have struggled to find a potential suitor to take him off their hands.
Lo Celso has struggled to live up to the hype following his permanent move from Real Betis in 2020, while Dele was already struggling to hold down a starting place before Conte’s appointment.
With the arrival of Emerson Royal in the summer and Conte’s pursuit of Traore, Doherty is becoming surplus to requirements at the club, while Rodon has made just one start this season and desperately needs regular game time.
Although Conte wants to offload all five, it is unlikely that they will all be on a permanent basis.
Ndombele’s high wages mean that a loan move until the end of the season is more likely, along with Dele Alli who continues to be linked with a loan switch to Newcastle.
But there is hope that Lo Celso, Doherty and Rodon could all be moved on for a fee, yet the club have received no official bids for the trio as things stand.
Spurs should be fine to sign Traore without any player departure needed beforehand, but should Conte wish to bring in further additions, others may need to leave.
The Lilywhites have been chasing AC Milan’s Franck Kessie, while there remain strong links with a move for Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie.
Conte has made his stance clear on what he wants for the remainder of the transfer window but it’s now down to the club to act on this, especially if Spurs are to push for a top four finish this season.
