I think this'll be the most difficult part to avoid, even without signing a new top player. Which key players have a contract with two years or less remaining?
The Spurs thread | 2017-18 season | Serious thread - wummers/derailers will be threadbanned
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Alderweireld is the main one at the moment that we're trying to tie down, though his recent comments suggest not much progress has been made.
I suspect Spurs will probably continue with their current strategy of trying to sign very good players on relatively cheap deals and capitalising on any young players they have coming through. Not sure they'll go out and sign a player who's demanding over £200k a week. It naturally puts them at a disadvantage compared to a number of their rivals, but considering Pochettino's done a good job of it so far, it'd be silly to rule them out.
He wants a release clause in his contract which Spurs seem reluctant to add. It's understandable that Levy and co. wish to protect themselves from opposing clubs stealing their players, but a release clause in a contract is pretty much standard procedure in this day and age.
Alderweireld is what, 29 now? Safe to assume the interest in him at this stage of his career would be minimal at best.
Just give him what he asks for Mr Levy, surely he has earned it.
Spurs seem to have fallen into that complacent trap that their first team Is "good enough" and so no major signing or improvement is needed.
Yet there's a reason people often recite the line about how when you stand still you go backwards.
Yet there's a reason people often recite the line about how when you stand still you go backwards.
Alderweireld just turned 28. He's got at least 3-4 years ahead of him as an absolute top class defender.
How long is his contract?
Have to say that Levy pulled a blinder to tie down Alli and Kane to long contracts, especially as they are about a third of what they could make elsewhere right now - if that.
Wenger has just predicted that players will play down there contracts more regularly. I just saw that Alderweild has two years left. It would make sense for him to drag it to at least next summer and weigh his options.
2 years left and apparently there's a 25m release clause that comes into play next year.
Not completely sure, but I believe they've each signed multiple new contracts over the last year or so. That seems to be the policy...offer new contracts, including wage increases, frequently based on performance. It's resulted in long-term contracts for virtually all of Spurs' key players (Alderweireld being the exception), but also goes along with the point that they're on comparatively lower wages to some PL counterparts.
It's two years, plus an optional 1 year extension (at the club's discretion). The £25m release clause comes into effect only when and if the extension is triggered.
This means that if he doesn't sign a new contract we could keep him for 2 more years - at which point he'll be 30 years old - and then sell for £25m.
So realistically IMO it's in his interest to sign a new contract and earn a lot more for the next two years and beyond.
What are Spurs doing? Very arrogant of them not to try and improve their side before the season begins. They are currently a weaker team than last season and it'll only get tougher to win the league, not easier.
Thanks. Wasn't aware of those details.
The only reason it's a story at the moment is because a question came up during a press conference on the preseason tour. It's not as if he's come out and said talks have been cut off or that he's not interested in signing.
Make you right, lad, Alderweireld is right up there with the best the prem has to offer. Furthermore he's the bedrock of that Spurs back line, the glue that binds if you will, which makes it even more puzzling as to why Spurs refuse to meet his demands. A release clause in a contract is not asking the earth.
Well it depends on the size of the release clause doesn't it?
We are actively trying to get players in, not sure where the arrogance is in waiting until we get the players we want at a price we can afford? Surely that is just good business sense? If we were sitting on our hands not interested in buying anybody then yes I could see your point but that is clearly not the situation.
It's risky rather than arrogance just like with Chelsea letting lots of squad players go before getting the replacements.
Always by waiting you risk seeing the prices go up and being forced into a corner of paying over-inflated prices just to get a signing.
Saying this Chelsea did alright with Luiz and Alonso last year though not many are confident this transfer window.
The available quality players seems small, it looks like most want to keep their talent rather than sell.
I get the impression there is generally a lot of luck involved and perhaps yet it will be with Spurs before the window closes
Somewhere around the £20m - £25m mark seems fair enough. You get the feeling that the figure is irrelevant to Levy, he simply dislikes the idea of giving his players the option to leave the club. Out of interest, how many Spurs players currently have a release clause in their contract?
I would think none (none that I know of), barring the release clause for Alderweireld that's only triggered if the club take up the option to extend his contract by a further year.
Being patient can be good but it's already August so they might wanna start bringing in 2-3 players for depth...
That would be triggered 10 times tomorrow if they did that.
Them doing nothing in this transfer window is baffling given the gap between them and the best club in Europe, which is the standard every big club should be trying to attain.
Im pretty sure spurs are trying to get players and poch said as much recently right? They're just in the same position Arsenal was about 5 years ago. They can't afford exorbitant fees and wages and need to make sure they get real value for money. when you see the fees flying around at the moment, you can understand why they haven't got any yet. They'll pick up some cheap RB from a lower/middling French or German side and try and find a winger from an untapped market - not to mention they'll rely on Onomah, Winks, Carter-Vickers (not sure that's exactly his name) and Edwards - to a lesser extent, to provide depth.
Exactly right.
Not sure if I've asked you before, but how much do you think the Wembley move will be a factor this year? You typically start a bit slow as well, so I'm waiting before getting in any of your attackers in for Fantasy Football
Not sure if I've asked you before, but how much do you think the Wembley move will be a factor this year? You typically start a bit slow as well, so I'm waiting before getting in any of your attackers in for Fantasy Football
The starting slow thing is an urban myth really, I think I'm right in saying we had the best start to a season in decades last season and it was Toby and Kane's injuries that turned wins into draws. Honestly I don't know how Wembley will impact us, if I had to guess I don't think it will have much effect at all, in fact the bigger pitch should benefit the style we like to play and reduce the opposition's ability to park the bus which they could easily at WHL.
Works both ways, narrow pitches suit Spurs as they press all over the pitch, so smaller ground means less ground to cover. Also they are more compact team which is more suited for narrow ground.
Saying that, few feet in length and width shouldn't be a difference but that's the excuse Spurs fans used for poor CL performance.
Re transfers, surprising they didn't sign anyone till now at least for squad depth. Also should have scheduled few games at Wembley to get used to the stadium.
Like I said I'm guessing re: Wembley. We are playing Juve at Wembley this weekend. Last season we weren't good enough to go further in Europe, that and bad luck in games and key injuries. Wembley had very little to do with it imo which is why I don't think it will have much of an impact this season either.
I think Spurs are doing okay in the window so far
With their wage structure, the big test was always keeping their star players. Any other striker with Kane's ability would probably leave. But luckily or them, Kane seems timid and unwilling to cause a lot of fuss. Keeping Alli is/was vital.
Their plan is probably to get players in that middle to late part of August where prices tend to drop. Barkley is one well in their sights and would be a good signing.
With their wage structure, the big test was always keeping their star players. Any other striker with Kane's ability would probably leave. But luckily or them, Kane seems timid and unwilling to cause a lot of fuss. Keeping Alli is/was vital.
Their plan is probably to get players in that middle to late part of August where prices tend to drop. Barkley is one well in their sights and would be a good signing.
I agree but that's what Spurs fans and few apologists argued.
I think Spurs will be in top 4 again this season, Poch is very good manager and gets best out of his players.
It was more that it was the media narrative, it's all they talked about at the time and some fans bought into it.
I also think we will be fine.
Why do you think this ? I can understand if the club tries to play it down/keep it quiet but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Obviously the reasoning behind this is that players' agents are well aware of the norm and that RCs are now almost de rigueur. I'd be surprised if so many established players were to sign renewals, at lower than could be achieved salaries, without some sort of back door. It's simply illogical on behalf of the players and especially their agents.
I think it did. It's almost like playing a local away game. However when you get to play and train there on a regular basis that could easily be far less of an issue.
If I was a Spurs fan I'd be a little worried. Some fans talk about continued improvement by keeping the team together but progress is not linear and it's even possible that last season was a peak that is not easily replicated, look at Chelsea's demise from champions to 10th (not that I see this happening to Spurs and of course Mourinho was certainly a key factor in that).
Obviously a major obstacle to Spurs' trajectory is that your main challengers, whether for the title or Top 4, have all strengthened, and most substantially. There may be a case against Chelsea but I doubt it and Arsenal IF they lose Sanchez, but that hasn't happened yet. I voted against Spurs for Top 4 for that reason. You simply can't stand still in football as history proves, even the likes of Ferguson, Paisley and Shankly, at their pomp, would freshen their first teams substantially year on year to sustain the internal competition and keep players hungry and pushing the limits of their abilities.
Obviously a major obstacle to Spurs' trajectory is that your main challengers, whether for the title or Top 4, have all strengthened, and most substantially. There may be a case against Chelsea but I doubt it and Arsenal IF they lose Sanchez, but that hasn't happened yet. I voted against Spurs for Top 4 for that reason. You simply can't stand still in football as history proves, even the likes of Ferguson, Paisley and Shankly, at their pomp, would freshen their first teams substantially year on year to sustain the internal competition and keep players hungry and pushing the limits of their abilities.
I am a little worried. I'm worried that we have not signed anybody and it's only 2 weeks from the start of the season. I'm worried that we are playing at Wembley next season and the uncertainty that causes (although I dont think it will impact us much, you just never know), I'm worried that our players and manager will lose confidence and the team's performances will suffer as a result. I'm worried that Poch will leave.
So much uncertainty right now, lots of big changes off the pitch and although I believe we will get through it and reap the rewards over the coming seasons I'd be a liar if I said I didn't have concerns.
It's typical Levy tactics. Leave it until the absolute death of the transfer window to try and save a few £m, which has a negative effect on the squad as the player isn't up to the required fitness or squad integration levels. They did the same but in reverse with Berbatov - instead of accepting £25m and having ample time to get a replacement integrated, they squeezed an extra few million and lost 6 of their opening 8 games (drawing 2) and finished the season behind Fulham.
For example I imagine Everton are looking for around £35m for Barkley, but Spurs will probably be wanting to pay half that. The difference nowadays to a few years ago is that a club like Everton are wealthy enough to turn down that kind of offer and if necessary let the player run down his contract.
I wouldn't be surprised if this tactic backfires and they ended up with a couple of unproven overseas players who will barely feature (like Jansson, N'Koudo, N'Jie, Fazio, Stambouli etc).
They obviously have no net cash flow to spend on transfers due to the stadium but with around £65m coming in from player sales you'd expect at least a couple of £20-25m signings to bolster their squad - which in truth is paper thin.
For example I imagine Everton are looking for around £35m for Barkley, but Spurs will probably be wanting to pay half that. The difference nowadays to a few years ago is that a club like Everton are wealthy enough to turn down that kind of offer and if necessary let the player run down his contract.
I wouldn't be surprised if this tactic backfires and they ended up with a couple of unproven overseas players who will barely feature (like Jansson, N'Koudo, N'Jie, Fazio, Stambouli etc).
They obviously have no net cash flow to spend on transfers due to the stadium but with around £65m coming in from player sales you'd expect at least a couple of £20-25m signings to bolster their squad - which in truth is paper thin.
They could get someone like Sigurdsson back. He would suit them well.
I actually wouldn't be against that.
I think this because Levy has little or no history of agreeing to release clauses. And I can't think of any Spurs player past or present - bar Alderweireld - where information concerning a release clause came to light.
You say that such clauses are almost de rigueur, but where's your evidence? How many Liverpool players have release clauses in their contracts?
I have no idea but it seems to be a feature of 'new contracts' although to be fair Coutinho's new contract doesn't contain one (according to the club) but then he's being paid a huge salary and there's probably a 'gentleman's agreement' in place a la Suarez. It just seems strange that at Spurs the players are paid far less than they could achieve elsewhere but they accept this without a RC ? Why and how has to be asked.
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