Jermaine Jenas has claimed that Tottenham did not sign any players this summer because Mauricio Pochettino only had a select group of targets and was unwilling to settle for second or third choices.
In an interview with the BBC Sport website, the former Spurs and England midfielder insisted that the manager was backed by the board of directors and had money to spend on new talent.
But Jenas said the information from his sources is that Pochettino did not want alternative targets once the club failed to secure deals for his primary choices.
“It is the team that has got them to this position, with consecutive top-three finishes and Champions League football and if the club does not back Pochettino, that will inevitably tail off," Jenas told BBC Sport.
“From my understanding, however, that is not the reason Spurs did not sign anyone this summer.
“Yes, Spurs had to stay within certain boundaries, but Pochettino was given the finances to go and get what he needed – it was just that Spurs were not able to get those deals over the line, and there was not much point in them going for their second or third choices."
As a former Spurs player who is a respected broadcaster with his ear close to the ground and one who is in regular contact with players and staff at the club, Jenas’ information can certainly be regarded as reliable. The received wisdom is that Tottenham were unwilling to back Pochettino in the summer transfer market because of the financial drain of the new stadium, which has suffered a series of setbacks amid spiralling costs. But it appears there was plenty of money there to spend if Pochettino wanted to. However, the manager has spoken in the past of how only certain footballers will fit the team’s playing style and be an asset to his squad. It appears that once deals such as the ones for Jack Grealish, Ryan Sessegnon and Wilfred Zaha were off the table that the manager shut up shop and pulled down the curtains on the window. That is the Argentine’s prerogative, but Jenas’ revelation should silence a few of Daniel Levy’s more strident critics.
JJ's views are interesting and reasoned. Paying inflated transfer fees is a dangerous game; already we can see that Man U, Chelsea and even Arsenal pay a premium because they have a reputation for overspending. And of course the transfer fee is only part of it. We have great team spirit which is why wages need to be managed sensibly. The key issue is the relationship between the chairman and the manager; if this what Poch thinks and he is comfortable with the situation then he gets my support.
Jenas on Spurs transfer business
posted on 15/8/18
comment by Alexis The King Sanchez (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
Spurs wouldn’t pay what Villa wanted for Grealish. Ergo, Pochettino wasn’t given the finances to get what he needed.
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Why is this too diffcult to understand?
Liverpool had a below average team so they went out and bought players at well over the top prices, because selling clubs inflate prices of their players who are in demand - that's the way the market works.
We wanted Grealish and we valued him at a reasonable £25mill based on his age, where he is in his footballing development and also market rate for a championship young player rates.
However, Villa were asking for far more than that.
We didn't go and pay that silly and stupid money.
We have quality in abundance and are looking for covers in certain areas, specially the striker position.
It a shame for Grealish because he would have flourished under Poch, who has experience of nurturing young players and bringing them through.
Spurs do things by the book. It's clubs like Chelsea and City that started this silly business of buying players at any cost. Now Liverpool are doing the same.
This is called killing the game.
posted on 15/8/18
Yeah it’s not difficult to understand. But you still don’t understand it. If the manager was given the finances to get what he needed he would have ended up with Grealish in a Spurs shirt. But he didn’t so he wasn’t. Jenas is talking shiiiiiit.
posted on 15/8/18
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 15/8/18
If you believe that you’ll believe anything.
posted on 16/8/18
comment by morespurs (U15748)
posted 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
comment by Alexis The King Sanchez (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
Spurs wouldn’t pay what Villa wanted for Grealish. Ergo, Pochettino wasn’t given the finances to get what he needed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is this too diffcult to understand?
Liverpool had a below average team so they went out and bought players at well over the top prices, because selling clubs inflate prices of their players who are in demand - that's the way the market works.
We wanted Grealish and we valued him at a reasonable £25mill based on his age, where he is in his footballing development and also market rate for a championship young player rates.
However, Villa were asking for far more than that.
We didn't go and pay that silly and stupid money.
We have quality in abundance and are looking for covers in certain areas, specially the striker position.
It a shame for Grealish because he would have flourished under Poch, who has experience of nurturing young players and bringing them through.
Spurs do things by the book. It's clubs like Chelsea and City that started this silly business of buying players at any cost. Now Liverpool are doing the same.
This is called killing the game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Its all relative.
Take They buying VD. No other team valued im at 75m cos they didnt need him that bad.
To Liverpool it was value, as they knew he would improve their 2-3m Cbs they had easily.
They obviously made some decent bank from the CL which Id say was def down to him, as he wasnt cup tied and their other CB partnerships were not CL standard. Def not after group stages.
TV money and Neymar warped things but teams are swimming in cash. Prem teams, even crud ones are super rich since the last 1-2 tv deals, on a global scale.
Usually id say there is loads of merit in the article and this approach. My issue is that Spurs do have areas yo could have improved.
Potch 100% deserves the final say but god scouts could easily find players for under 30 mill (Sissoko money) that would have at least helped improved the squad.
A striker, wing backs, Sissoko still gets games.All couldve been strengthened even if not the first 11. Spurs are so close to being top tier on a global level i get u need only a couple more bits of the jigsaw but why and how targets werent found Ive no idea.
Spurs even with the stadium have the money, and they need the players. I dont want Chelsea and arsenal back in the top 4 ffs
posted on 16/8/18
If you believe that you’ll believe anything.
—————————————-
Well, you obviously believe you know better than we do and yet you have given no facts, just conjecture
Anyway, your name sake is getting paid over £500,000 a week which is obscene. Wonder why he didn’t go to City, oh yes they wouldn’t pay him the money.
Must love the United badge
posted on 16/8/18
If only there was two more
posted on 16/8/18
comment by morespurs (U15748)
posted 11 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by Alexis The King Sanchez (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
Spurs wouldn’t pay what Villa wanted for Grealish. Ergo, Pochettino wasn’t given the finances to get what he needed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is this too diffcult to understand?
Liverpool had a below average team so they went out and bought players at well over the top prices, because selling clubs inflate prices of their players who are in demand - that's the way the market works.
We wanted Grealish and we valued him at a reasonable £25mill based on his age, where he is in his footballing development and also market rate for a championship young player rates.
However, Villa were asking for far more than that.
We didn't go and pay that silly and stupid money.
We have quality in abundance and are looking for covers in certain areas, specially the striker position.
It a shame for Grealish because he would have flourished under Poch, who has experience of nurturing young players and bringing them through.
Spurs do things by the book. It's clubs like Chelsea and City that started this silly business of buying players at any cost. Now Liverpool are doing the same.
This is called killing the game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So Liverpool’s below average team, the one that finished a massive 2 points behind a Spurs team that has quality in abundance sell a player for £140,000,000 and then reinvest it plus some of the revenue from the Champions league final run.
And it’s killing the game?
posted on 16/8/18
So Liverpool’s below average team, the one that finished a massive 2 points behind a Spurs team that has quality in abundance sell a player for £140,000,000 and then reinvest it plus some of the revenue from the Champions league final run.
And it’s killing the game?
____________________________
This is not a get at Liverpool article, it is about Spurs possible reasons why we did not sign our (if indeed they were) targets.
We all know Liverpool are not a below average team and will indeed be stronger this season by the looks of it.
posted on 16/8/18
I’m not making it one.
United, City & to a point Chelsea in the past have spent huge sums of money.
United from the huge sums that they generate through they’re commercial activities.
City through a billionaire owner.
Chelsea originally through a billionaire owner and to a point through player sales.
Liverpool have invested in the squad but that investment has come from player sales, on pitch success through the Champions League run and an upturn in commercial activity.
Klopps net spend is still quite modest considering the amount of money the club makes.