Mauricio Pochettino wants signings with Premier League experience but Tottenham look likely to lose Kyle Walker

Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images
Tom Collomosse3 May 2017

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is encouraging the club to sign players with Premier League experience this summer.

Pochettino believes the best way to strengthen his squad is by bringing in men who can hit the ground running in English football, rather than players from other leagues who need time to adjust.

Ross Barkley, the Everton attacking midfielder, remains a prominent target, while centre-backs Michael Keane, of Burnley, and Harry Maguire, of Hull, are believed to have impressed Spurs scouts.

Tottenham put in a bid for Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha last summer but his club are likely to value him at about £40m, meaning Spurs may have to break their £30m transfer record to buy the 24-year-old. Demarai Gray, the Leicester winger, is also thought to be on the radar, as well as Andre Gray, the Burnley forward.

In terms of seasoned signings, the best of the Pochettino era have been Toby Alderweireld and Victor Wanyama.

Before joining Spurs, both players spent the previous season at Southampton, though Alderweireld was on loan at St Mary’s from Atletico Madrid. By contrast, Clinton Njie, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Vincent Janssen have struggled, while Heung-min Son’s best form has come only this term — his second after his £22m move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015.

Spurs are adamant they do not have to sell any of their key players. Yet it appears likely Kyle Walker will go. Standard Sport first revealed last Monday that the right-back was aware of Manchester City’s willingness to double his £70,000-a-week salary and had sought talks with Pochettino. It is believed he has asked to leave but has not submitted a formal transfer request.

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