Sanskar: "We heard so much about how we won't spend much this window, but now we're hearing about Trossard, alongside Porro and others. What's your take on this?"
Alasdair says: "Trossard is an interesting one. It seems that he's being offered around in an attempt to get him a move away from Brighton. The 28-year-old wouldn't be a normal Spurs profile signing but as a Conte ready-made Premier League player he ticks a few boxes, while he won't cost a fortune even if Brighton have reportedly activated an extra 12 months on his deal which was set to end this summer.
"He's versatile either down the left or centrally in attack and has an end product in front of goal, with seven goals and two assists in 16 Premier League matches this season.
"If Trossard is after regular starts though he may not find it at Tottenham, competing with Son and Richarlison mainly and also Perisic for a place on the left. It's one to keep an eye on but there's going to be a lot of players offered by agents to Spurs in the next three weeks."
READ MORE: Qatar Sports Investment meeting with Daniel Levy explained as Tottenham deny funding talks
chrism12: "Considering the lack of depth in attackers is there any concrete Spurs interest in Zaha (out of contract) or Saint Maximin (seemingly on the bench at Newcastle) - can't help but feel both are achievable targets and give us pace in behind which we seem to be lacking?"
Alasdair says: "Spurs have long been linked with Zaha and Paratici is a big fan of Saint-Maximin. Zaha as a cheap or free transfer in the summer would be a good attacking addition, but at 30-years-old and presumably on a big salary, he doesn't really tick fit the Tottenham mould any more. He does fit the Conte mould in that respect but I'm not entirely sure he does as a player with the amount of defensive work the Italian demands of attackers. He can also talk to foreign clubs this month about a lucrative summer free transfer.
"Saint-Maximin has a long contract until 2026 so I can't imagine he will come at a good price for a January window unless Newcastle have a sudden desire to get him out of the club which there currently does not seem any reason for."
JBgtr: "What is going on Pedro Porro's deal? Every media outlet is saying that Sporting won't sell him, unless spurs don't bid buyout. Can Spurs afford 45m or are willing to bid that amount of money?"
Alasdair says: "The Porro situation is an interesting one. Spurs do really like him, even if he might not be the perfect Conte fit in terms of his physique. With Sporting saying anyone who wants him must pay the £39.5m (45m euros) release fee, Tottenham would need to find a compromise.
"Paying the release fee most of the time means paying the full amount in one lump sum. That's just not how Spurs, or most clubs, operate as most clubs pay transfer fees in instalments. Often clubs will negotiate a higher price in order to have the fee spread over an amount of time.
"There's also been a suggestion that, as well as a buy-back clause, if Porro is sold within a certain amount of time then Manchester City would get some money from Sporting for him, which, if true, is another reason for the Portuguese club requiring the full amount up front.
"Spurs would also need to get one or two right wing-backs out of the squad if they were to advance a move for the Spaniard."
lwizispurs1: "What’ll be the impact of the possible part buy from Qatar Sports Investment?"
Alasdair says: "It's all very much early talk and it might end up being something that becomes nothing. Daniel Levy and Nasser Al-Khelaifi have been friends for years and meet up whenever their paths place them in the same city at the same time. In the latest meeting, a mutually-arranged one in a London hotel last week, the potential of investing in Spurs is understood to have been brought up among a wide range of topics.
One of the main items on the agenda for the meeting was the new joint venture between UEFA and the ECA which covers media rights sales processes for UEFA club competitions after 2024 and is set to boost revenue streams for teams. Talk is understood to have also turned to the potential of QSI investing in Spurs, believed to be the second such conversation about the topic since the World Cup, but any discussions remain at a preliminary level.
QSI, who own PSG and recently took on 23% of Portuguese side Braga, have held meetings with various major clubs across the game with a view to substantially increase their investments and ambitions in the sport. They have set their sights on the Premier League in particular, although the restrictions in place in European football would prevent QSI from taking anything more than a non-controlling stake in a club other than PSG.
There are no indications at this point that the discussions will lead to anything and other clubs may end up being the focus of QSI's increased efforts to invest in football, while there are some suggestions that Spurs have also had conversations with two other interested parties about investment in the club.
I should stress that Tottenham continue to state categorically that there is no truth in suggestions that any discussions have been held with QSI regarding equity of the club.
emerson royal the goat: "Is any club interested in Emerson Royal this window?"
Alasdair says: "I've spoke about the fitness part below if you scroll down a bit. As for Emerson, there's interest from clubs in both Spain and Italy about signing Emerson in a loan-to-buy deal during the January transfer window, but that interest is yet to materialise into a concrete offer to Tottenham.
"The player is not particularly keen to move on and it will be interesting to see how the dynamic works if Spurs really push for a new right wing-back. I got some thoughts from Emerson this week on the criticism he's been getting from Spurs fans and abuse on social media which has seen him have to restrict the comments on his Instagram posts.
"It's not up to me to say whether the crowd's opinion is fair or not. There are people who pay [to watch matches], but there are many people in favour," he said. "I do not seek to see these questions [about me]. I prefer to focus on doing my best for the club. I prefer to dedicate myself 100% to what I can do. Sometimes things go well, sometimes they don't, but it is not for lack of will and dedication."
He added: "I never stopped making an effort, trying to help my team-mates and managing to sustain the happiness I have and put it on the field. I always try to do that. I understand all the manifestations of the fans. It is their role together, but you must understand about the player, his moment, will and repertoire. I'm trying to improve every day and live up to all the trust it motivates. I support myself a lot in the messages of affection I have received."
jerome55: "While I want Conte to stay and commit to the club, if he were to leave, do you think the club would consider Ryan Mason for manager? The fans would hate it for a bit, but he did well with a battered squad as caretaker and played exciting football. He could literally be our version of Arteta after being an assistant to so many top managers."
Alasdair says: "I think he did really well in the circumstances as a 29-year-old thrust into a tough situation. A couple of years on and he will have gained plenty of experience but I think it might be too soon for him to have the full Tottenham Hotspur experience thrust upon him as such a young manager. I personally think a management role lower down the ladder would be a great bit of experience for him."
myst7: "Does Conte view Udogie as someone who can straight away fill the shoes of Perisic or who still needs developing like Sessesnon?"
Alasdair says: "I asked Conte about Destiny Udogie soon after he signed. Here's what he said.
"You said it well, he's a player for the future. I think he is a good prospect for Tottenham because we are talking about a young player. For sure this player needs to develop like Spence and in my opinion a good investment for the club. Now he continues to play in this season with Udinese and in this way he has the possibility to play regularly.
"When you are young you need to play to improve your experience. For sure we are talking about a good prospect, but we are talking about a player for the future not for the present. He has to develop and to grow with a group of players with more experience."
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