OPINION
There are a couple of players on Tottenham’s books that the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Daniel Levy would like to get off the books sooner rather than later, but very few of those have been regulars in the starting XI.
The likes of Fernando Llorente and Vincent Janssen are big earners who have offered very little in return, and with funds still seemingly an issue when it comes to transfer dealings, getting their wages back and some sort of fee for their sale would help their cause immeasurably.
However, what about those in the first team?
Well, Mousa Dembele’s situation is an interesting one, with the Belgian heading into the final year of his contract but seemingly unwilling to pen a new deal.
Het Nieuwsblad claim on their website that the midfield enforcer, one of the first names on the team sheet, has turned down a move to Inter Milan and that a switch to China also failed to materialise, leaving Pochettino in a difficult situation.
Does he keep him on and face losing him for nothing next summer, or push him out the door by forcing a move?
With Dembele’s head reportedly still on the chopping block in north London, Pochettino must make the toughest of decisions and try to seal Dembele’s exit, for the money raised from his sale could be key in strengthening the squad further before the end of summer.
He obviously has no intentions of staying long-term, and while having him in the team next season would obviously be a boost, it also stops the likes of Harry Winks from picking up crucial game time to further his development.
The club’s future must come first and quite frankly, Dembele has ruled himself out of playing much of a part in it – so it is time for Poch to be ruthless and axe him while there is still the chance of cash on the table.