The upcoming season might just be make or break for Tottenham. Mauricio Pochettino has spoken out about the club’s lack of ambition, and it’s difficult to imagine players like Dele Alli and Harry Kane will stick around too long without a major trophy.
Which makes Spurs’ unwillingness to do any business yesterday all the more baffling. They can now lay claim to being the first Premier League club to not buy a single player in the summer transfer window.
Pochettino has labelled it a “brave decision”, which sounds about right. Back in May he said that chairman Daniel Levy needed to be “brave and take risks”, but he likely didn’t mean this.
Tottenham were linked with Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish at the last minute but couldn’t agree a fee. Pochettino admitted that his failure to sign a player “maybe looks bad because of the perception”, but added: “That is our decision - to keep the best players and to keep the squad. It is a brave decision.”
Spurs' lack of investment is likely down to the Harry Kane and Pochettino’s new bumper contracts, as well as the club's upcoming stadium move. “Building a new training ground, finishing the lodge - it was a massive investment. Building a stadium that is nearly £1 billion.
“Of course, maybe in the mind of everyone they will say ‘oh Tottenham did not sign anyone’ but to sign for the sake of signing? It is better to keep your best players.”
Nick Pope is the Site Director of Esquire, overseeing digital strategy for the brand.
