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Tottenham Talk on Monday 30th Aug

Tottenham Talk  on Monday 30th Aug

Weston-McKennie

Another week starts and now we have to endure international fixtures and pine for the return of domestic action.

However, our consoling grace is that we are top of the table, two points clear for two weeks and Arsenal sit bottom of the table.

This week saw the draw for the UEFA Europa Conference League and although it isn't the competition we want to be in, it is the competition we are in, so we should use it to develop players and develop a winning mentality, feel those winning emotions, by winning the whole competition.

To win trophies, our players need to feel that winning feeling as it will drive them on to feel it again, that's how winning starts.

First hurdle, win the group.

Group G
Tottenham Hotspur
Stade Rennais (France)
Vitesse Arnhem (Netherlands)
NŠ Mura (Slovenia)

Stade Rennais finished 6th in Ligue 1 last season and play at Roazhon Park, Rennais, Brittany, France.

They qualified by beating Rosenborg of Norway 5-1 on aggregate in the play-off.

There is an airport in Rennes but by train it only takes 8 hours so you can imagine flying greatly reduces the time.

From a travelling point of view for the squad with a weekend after the away tie, it is a very good draw for Spurs that will cause minimum disruption.

Vitesse Arnheim is again a fabulous draw in terms of travelling with a weekend fixture following, we couldn't have asked for much better.

Vitesse finished 4th in the Eredivisie last season.

They beat Republic of Ireland side Dundalk 4-3 on aggregate and then got past Belgian side Anderlecht 5-4 on aggregate in the play-off.

That just leaves one away trip to Murska Sobota in Slovenia to play NŠ Mura who won the Slovenian PrvaLiga.

That took them to UEFA Champions League Qualifying rounds.

They beat Shkendija (North Macedonia) 6-0 on aggregate but lost 3-1on aggregate to Ludogorets (Bulgaria).


That loss put them into the UEFA Europa League Qualification rounds.

They beat beat Zalgiris (Lithuania) 1-0 on aggregate, but lost to Sturm (Austria) 5-1 on aggregate in the final play-off round.

That loss dropped them into the Group Stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

It's a good group for Tottenham that travelling wise will cause minimum disruption to our Premier League fixtures.

Group G Fixtures

Thursday 16 September - 5.45pm GMT - Stade Rennais FC v Tottenham Hotspur
Thursday 30 September - 8pm GMT - Tottenham Hotspur v NS Mura
Thursday 21 October - 5.45pm GMT - Vitesse v Tottenham Hotspur
Thursday 4 November - 8pm GMT - Tottenham Hotspur v Vitesse
Thursday 25 November - 5.45pm GMT - NS Mura v Tottenham Hotspur
Thursday 9 December - 8pm GMT - Tottenham Hotspur v Stade Rennais FC

Nuno Espírito Santo

Nuno Espírito Santo is a tough man if the account of Joe Hart is to be believed and why shouldn't it with the evidence at hand.

Apparently Joe Hart has revealed that Nuno told him that whatever the circumstances, he would not kick a ball for him this season.

Thus Joe had to find another club.

I offer you Serge Aurier, Moussa Sissoko, Tanguy Ndombele.

As he said, it is not his job to convince a player to play for Spurs, only to train them to do so.

If they don't want to play, he won't play them.

Did he tell Érik Lamela the same thing to force him to accept a move?

Serge Aurier asked to leave and was granted permission in May so that's why he isn't figuring.

There is no exit route for Ndombele yet, fingers crossed something appears before the deadline as he is preventing us bringing a player in.

Strikers

It is my view that we will not bring in another striker as we want goalscoring midfielders to spread the load around, rather than relying on a central striker.

Dele used to break into the box and has been tasked with that from left midfield while Højbjerg has been tasked with it from right midfield.

We want more from our wide men too.

The aim is to have midfield runners passing Kane or joining him in the box to contribute goals, in other words, to create multiple dimension and not be a one-dimensional team.

If Kane is out, then Son will take over and young Dane Scarlett will be developed.

So, in answer to those who have asked the question, that's what I think we'll see this season.

Iliax Moriba

Iliax Moriba asked his agents to meet Tottenham to agree commissions on a deal so he can complete the move.

Fabio Paratici was in Barcelona on Saturday to try and secure the deal.

His agents want him to go to RB Leipzig however, because they earn a fortune in commissions from the deal.

RB Leipzig and Barcelona were in discussions on Sunday morning

He didn't train at Barcelona's facilities on Friday, he trained on his own and it looks as if Paratici has now turned his attention to Weston McKennie at Juventus.

Weston McKennie

Juventus have now transfer listed the midfielder, despite Massimiliano Allegri previously insisting he was not for sale. 

Juventus want €30m (£25.71m - US$35.39m - AUS$48.40m) for him.

The Italians would be interested in Tanguy Ndombele but Tottenham may only be interested in an initial loan deal with an option to buy which might rule out a swap deal.

West Ham, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are chasing him but he doesn't feel these clubs are of sufficient stature.

Post Ronaldo, Juventus lost 1-0 at home to Empoli and Weston McKennie was played out of position as a false nine, while their ageing squad also saw a right-back playing as a defensive midfielder.

After a 90% passing success rate, he was substituted at half-time.

Perhaps there is a need for Ndombele there.

Emerson Royal

You all know about this guy from last summer when we were interested in him.

The 22-year-old (23 next January) is a Brazilian international (2 caps) right-back who was at Real Betis but is now back at Barcelona.

Barcelona are still in difficulty financially and we are possibly looking to take advantage of that and snap up another highly-rated youngster.

Tottenham have offered €20m (£17.14m - US$23.59m - AUS$32.26m) for him while Barcelona want €25/30m (£21.42/25.73m - US$29.5/35.39m - AUS$40.33/48.41m).

Naturally we have tried offering them fellow right-back Serge Aurier but that didn't interest Barcelona.

As mentioned above, Fabio Paratici met with Barcelona on Saturday in an attempt to secure both deals.

Reports suggest Ronald Koeman wants to keep Emerson.

Adama Traoré

Tottenham are looking for a loan with option to buy for Adama Traoré and Wolves want a straight sale.

We are not interested at £40m (€46.68m - US$55.06m - AUS$75.3m).

Apparently, he put in the same performance against Manchester United as he did against us, good to a point, poor finishing.

Plenty of other fish in the sea, despite this being the player Nuno wants.

Odsonne Édouard

I am delighted to report that we are again taking an interest in 23-year-old (24 next January) prolific Celtic striker Odsonne Édouard.

Yes I know I said I don't think we'll sign a striker but I'd be happy signing this proven goalscorer to help us out.

Édouard is in the last year of his contract and Celtic have received several bids of €18m (£15,42m - US$21.23m - AUS$29.04m) for him from Everton, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Bordeaux and Rubin Kazan amongst others.

Édouard has many suitors apart from those mentioned so will be able to pick and choose where he wants to go.

Yves Bissouma

Brighton value Yves Bissouma at £40m amid reported Tottenham interest.

He is also being linked with Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and bottom of the table Arsenal.

This isn't one I have looked into yet.


Well that's it folks.
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