Barardi, Kane and Sandro

It must be a quiet time with people trying to create stories where there aren't really any like with Sassuolo striker Domenico Berardi. He may well be in London, but he isn't in London to see us as we are not buying him.

Not only are the figures bandied about too expensive, but he is going to rejoin Juventus who have a buyback and first refusal on him for the next two years at set fees. We may well like him, so does half of Europe, but he isn't coming to White Hart Lane, he agent has already told us as much.

Einstein Charlie Nicholas has decided Harry Kane won't move to Manchester United this summer, something all fans with an ounce of knowledge about the club know. Nicholas, who didn't have the motivation to make the most of his talent in his playing days, falls into the same trap as some fans who think history dictates the future.

Tottenham are not the same club we were. We have a new mentality now about retaining and developing talent with a bond for the club, a bond that sees them want to stay instead of leave. Obviously, there have to be other factors and one is progress which we are clearly making. Kan himself has frequently said he is going nowhere and wants to be at Spurs for years, I have no doubt he will still be here when the new stadium opens.

The Manchester United media campaign aided and abetted by Spurs news regurgitation websites aimed at unsettling him will not work. Thus far it has had minimal effect, if any, except to cause panic among some over something that isn't happening. Shame on them, but then pessimism is their watchword in life.

Next up we have the ongoing stories of Sandro who were are definitely trying to buy. We have been watching him for a while, but as reported earlier any deal is being held up by Barcelona wanting a buyback clause, something we have never been willing to even entertain. To improve a player to lose him for a set fee and have to start again is not an option.

We take all the risks to potentially simply be put back in the situation we are now just a year or two down the line. It makes no business sense to restrict who you can see a player to, should you wish to sell them, and it makes no playing sense to have to reinvent the wheel.

Th reported figure from Spain is he is being offered to us at £2.95-million with buyback clauses, however, his buyout clause is reported to be only £8.78-million (US$13.05m - AUS$18.07m - €12m) which we are happy to meet.

It is all quiet on Timo Werner, Christian Benteke is thankfully a non-starter, Ayoze Perez is staying at Newcastle, Michy Batshuayi is staying at Marseille, Laurent Depoitre is staying at Gent, both have regular football and the 2016 UEFA European Championships on their mind. Valencia are not selling Negrado, Celta Vigo want too much for Nolito, Juventus only want to loan Simeone Zaza and Breel Embolo will command too big a fee to take a risk on given he doesn't play in a top league week in week out.

That leaves us with Saido Berahino, our number one target and Moussa Dembele at Fulham. I suspect we will end up with Berahino and id we can negotiate no buyback clauses Sandro for the departing Townsend.

I'd be happy with just that business to bring a Happy New Year to you all.


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