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Football London

Sport

Alasdair Gold

Richarlison fee deadline for Tottenham, Christian Eriksen decision and Clement Lenglet latest

Alasdair Tottenham Spurs Christian Eriksen Clement Lenglet Son Antonio Conte Tanguy Ndombele Dejan Kulusevski Gianni Vio

VENMFST: "Is the Lenglet deal as close as reported by Spanish media?"

Alasdair says: "Clement Lenglet is a centre-back Spurs have seriously looked at before and I understand he turned down a loan move to N17 last summer. He's versatile and can cover both the left-sided and central roles in a back three. From what I gather the experienced Frenchman would be a reasonably priced back-up option, likely to be on loan, to turn to if Tottenham feel they can't get the players at the top of their centre-back wish list this summer. If he signs then it's up to him to prove he's anything but that."

FindingMido: "Are any training ground friendlies scheduled before the tour?"

Alasdair says: "To be honest those training ground games are rarely made public until during/after they've happened and sometimes they're arranged at late notice. I'd be shocked if they don't have at least one, perhaps during the week between the Sevilla and Rangers friendlies. Before the tour might be a bit soon as most players only return a day or two before Spurs fly out unless they decide to put together an academy/non-internationals side, but Conte would probably just want to run straight, gruelling sessions."

ShaqAddo: "Do you think Conte could use Dejan Kulusevski more at right wing-back next season as he’s previously mentioned that he can play there?"

Alasdair says: "I think Kulusevski is more likely to be a makeshift wing-back during matches when required, rather than starting them that way. He's too effective higher up the pitch to compromise that with defending."

ake1r: "Clips emerged of Ndombele training hard during pre-season. Do you think he may be able to stay at the club this summer and fight for a spot or is it over for him in a Spurs shirt?"

Alasdair says: "Every player trains hard during the off-season. It's now the common thing to get footage of their work with a personal trainer on to social media. I think Tanguy Ndombele would have to be absolutely incredible for his Tottenham career to turn around at this point. Don't forget that Conte had him training alone before his loan move back to Lyon was finally found. I'm one of Tanguy's biggest fans in terms of his talent, but I just think it would require something remarkable to prevent another move away from Spurs from happening for him."

gabealfonnso: "When will Conte be back with the team?"

Alasdair says: "I'd imagine on Monday when the non-international players arrive back, although often those first day or two are about sport science tests for them all and then the fitness work so he might not have too much coaching to do in the early days."

Sanskar: "Any updates with Ndombele, Lo Celso, Gil deals? Haven't heard much about outgoings apart from Winks and Bergwijn."

Alasdair says: "There doesn't seem to be anything close with outgoings at the moment, although of course, that can change the moment someone meets Spurs' valuation. Everton are still in talks over Harry Winks, Ajax need to meet Spurs' price tag for Steven Bergwijn while the deals have to be right for Ndombele, Lo Celso and Gil. The first two were Spurs' most expensive transfers of all time and the latter only signed 10 months or so ago."

SamJarrett: "If we do get the signing of Richarlison over the line, do you think the focus will firmly switch over to the defensive side and outgoings, or will we still be looking for any other midfield/forward players?"

Alasdair says: "There's growing confidence in Spurs' pursuit of Richarlison and the Brazilian can cover any position across the front three, including through the middle where he played plenty of times for Everton last season, so he can be that Harry Kane support/back-up. However, I'm told Spurs will continue to monitor the market for any opportunities when it comes to further forward signings in case an opportunity that's too good to turn up arises in the final two months of the window. As for the defenders, that's all being worked on simultaneously."

LittleCruyff: "Fans always talk about how a certain target in the media could be a "smokescreen" for the actual target. My question is whether the club actually uses smokescreens and whether there's any recent example you could provide?"

Alasdair says: "No they don't, well not as far as I'm aware. At the most, perhaps people within the club wouldn't play down links someone has written about a player in that regard, but the problem with doing that is that when the player goes elsewhere it looks like Spurs missed out on them and fans get angry when in reality they never made a move. 'Smokescreens' are often more social media constructs as we all hope something bigger is in the pipeline. That's human nature."

Hostrup6: "If we sell Bergwijn and buy Richarlison, will we buy another forward?"

Alasdair says: "I think Spurs would have to because you would have Richarlison as both Son and Kane's competition, with Kulusevski and Lucas on the other side. Unless they see Perisic as also providing cover for both flanks then they need one more new face up front."

Benzi: "What's the reason behind the Yves Bissouma signing despite the squad's overload of midfielders?"

Alasdair says: "He's a top-quality Premier League midfielder available for a great price and with Harry Winks set to go, having four excellent central midfielders for all of the competitions Spurs are involved in is just right."

rajacena: "Do Everton's FFP problems mean the deal for Richarlison will be done by June 30?"

Alasdair says: "It would be tough to get the entire transfer wrapped up from start to finish and announced within just 24 hours at this point but you never know depending on Everton's need. You could certainly agree a fee though and that's the important thing for FFP from what I understand, and being able to show evidence of that before the end of Thursday, but that might not be enough time for everything else involved in a transfer to be completed and signed off. Richarlison may well still be on his holidays after his international duty as well, so either you fly him in quickly or you conduct the medical remotely if you want to rush it all through."

Ajv1_: "Do you think Christian Eriksen’s delayed decision may be because he’s waiting for Spurs and do you think there’s a slim chance Spurs may turn back to him soon and bring him back?"

Alasdair says: "No, not at this point. Spurs don't seem to be involved in the race for the Dane anymore. It's a shame because I think he ticks plenty of boxes for the club but Tottenham's interest in Eriksen seemed to cool a few weeks back after the last contact with his camp."

2003Harvey: "Are we going to try to sign two centre backs. It would be nice if Eric Dier had to fight for a spot and we had a class left centre-back?"

Alasdair says: "That's my understanding, that the plan is to try to bring in two centre-backs. Don't forget Joe Rodon is expected to move on and Japhet Tanganga could also move later in the window if a good offer comes in for all parties. Even with just Rodon heading out I think you need two new defenders to come in as Conte wants two top-quality players in each position."

Cass_ius: "Are you excited at the prospect of Gianni Vio joining? If they join, how big/fast of an impact do you think he will make?"

Alasdair says: "I think Spurs certainly require help when it comes to their set-pieces and Vio is seen as the master of that, having designed 4,830 different routines that he fits to certain players. Tottenham are in advanced talks with the specialist coach although a deal is not yet finalised nor his arrival imminent, but hopefully that gets pushed through as it's all about that extra couple of per cent for football teams."

SmitGoCrazy: "There seems to be talk about Emerson and Reguilon potentially moving this summer. While both players haven't performed at the highest level thus far, I don't understand the logic in moving good squad players in a season like this. They seem happy and, considering the amount of games we will play, wouldn't it be wise to keep them?"

Alasdair says: "I think the problem is having three players in each position and that's probably too much. You've already got Perisic and Sessegnon on the left, with Davies able to cover there, and Doherty and, Spurs hope, Spence on the right, with Kulusevski able to cover on that side. Neither Emerson nor Reguilon are believed to be keen to move on but ultimately Conte will want his squad shaped to his demands and if good offers come in and he decides to tell the players they're not part of his plans then a move is best for all parties."

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