Tottenham will trim their wage bill at the end of this month with the departures of several senior players including William Gallas and David Bentley who will be leaving at the expiry of their current contracts. The deadwood had begun to clear prior to the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas last year but the press are now claiming that up to ten first team players could be sold, either to fund further transfers or to build up Gareth Bale’s wages – depending on who you believe.
Many of the names are predictable but some may surprise – here’s the full list.
Jermain Defoe, Emmanuel Adebayor, Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone, Iago Falque, Andros Townsend, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Bongani Khumalo and goalkeepers Heurelho Gomes and Brad Friedel.
Some of the suggestions don’t add up – after all, who will pay a fee for Brad Friedel at 42? As capable as he is, just what would Spurs expect to gain from a move that would see them having to enter the market for a back up to Hugo Lloris?
Overall, that is an issue with many of these names and if you sell Defoe and Adebayor, you have no senior striker and have to spend big in order to get depth of cover in this position.
Other names make more sense but picking Parker, Huddlestone, Falque and Gomes is an obvious thing to do if you need a story. However, these reports genuinely claim that AVB has told each of these players that they are surplus to requirements. Time, as always, will tell.
Personally, I would keep Defoe (impact sub), Parker (leader) and Brad (GK Coach). The rest of them can be sold if the price is right, and assuming we can get a better left back at a good price.
IF BALE STAY -SPURES NEED TO SELL—-NAUGHTON, DANY ROSE, ASSOU EKOTO, HUDDLESTONE, PARKER, SIGURDSSON, GOMES, KHUMALO, ADABAYOR, J.DEFOE, TOWNSED———-11 OUT- —–6 POWER HOUSE SINGNING—–1.LB – FABIO CONTRAO OR L.BAINS 2.CM/DM – KEVIN STROOTMAN OR GAURIN OR PAULINHO 3.CAM-ERIKSON OR BURNARD OR DZAGOEV OR BELHANDA 4.WINGER – ALEX KACANCLIC OR AFFALAY OR ALEX SANCHEZ OR TELLO 5.ST-J.MARTINEZ OR M.GOMEZ OR EDIN DZEKO OR SOLDADO 6.ST-LEANARDO DAMIAO OR HERNENDEZ OR LISNARDO LOPEZ
AKAHALASHI FOR MANGNAR
Problem is that Levy doesn’t seem to sanction new signings (significant ones, anyway) until others are shipped out first – it’s been this way for a while now. I agree with that whole list (if true) with the exception of both Adebayor and Defoe – you have to have at least 3 strikers for depth (and not rely on Bale/Dempsey!!). I’d like to see us keep Defoe for one more season and bring in 2 from Villa/Benteke/Damiao/Michu. We also have to seal that creative midfielder and decent wing cover for Lennon & Bale. Haven’t we got any decent young goalies at the club who can step up and learn from the experienced Brad and now Lloris??
I think we have to be realistic financially, I think possibly a maximum of four players in, depending on sales.
My ideal scenario would be to keep Bale, sigh Pjanic or Bernard, Paulinho and/or Damiao. However I think if Damiao was going to sign for us, he would have done by now !. Another possible option for midfield could be Afellay.
Shit! Playstation consumption is not good for your ego.