The Daily ITK Discussion Thread 16th May 2019

[Lighty64]

We have quite a few good players available in the market for RB spot. If Toby is going, then we have a problem- I don't think there are that many good CBs available at a reasonable price. If it comes to Toby leaving or Toby running out his contract I would chose the later. I guess he has shown last season he can put the contract issue behind & play for us. Having said, I cant see Levy letting him leave for nothing. His position is lot harder to fill. I dont think we have enough in the squad to make it up from within.

Levy only has a say in accepting a bid, he has no say if the player stays or leaves, because if Toby DOESN'T want to join a team, he doesn't have to go

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

But the ITK led us to believe he won't sign the contract on offer. I must admit I'd be ok if he let his contract run down as his presence has been invaluable this year and financially beneficial with CL qualification for example so him being here next year may be worth the £25 million again anyway.

I would accept him staying for 1 year and leaving on a free. My concern is that a united or any other club meet the £25m near the end of the transfer window he says yes and it is too late for us to get a replacement.

 

[Now it's Spursonal]

Can't see us paying what it'll take to get AWB. He'll end up going for Kyle Walker money if he leaves this summer.

Pay it! This fella passes the eye test with flying colours and his stats back it up tenfold. Near the top in the league for interceptions, tackles and even successful take-ons.

 

[Dillspur]

I would accept him staying for 1 year and leaving on a free. My concern is that a united or any other club meet the £25m near the end of the transfer window he says yes and it is too late for us to get a replacement.

I believe there is only a 2 week window after the season ends, so that can't happen

 

[ardiles]

There is without question a lot more to be optimistic about this window. The club is a far more attractive proposition than it has been in the past. Players and agents seem far keener to commit earlier than they have in previous windows where we have been a back up option to a number of players, had their preferential moves fell through.

It’s music to my ears. ?

 

[archiewasking]

Wonderful stuff. Thanks Trix, Ali Z and Hercules. Finally looking like the window of our dreams. Certainly won't lose sleep over losing Aurier and Tripps if we get AWB. Sess, Ndombele and others possible, what a statement of intent. Finally looking up at the teams above and forgetting those behind.

 

[ardiles]

I believe there is only a 2 week window after the season ends, so that can't happen

I think the clause becomes void two weeks before the window ends.

 

[WiganSpur]

Not so worried about any potential limitations of AWB going forward. Being defensively sound is still more important even in today's football.

We all know Poch is the full back whisperer too, so as long as he's got the physical attributes then he will thrive.

 

[Col_M]

It's a shame that for Toby it really is all about money. There aren't many clubs which are a step up from Spurs from a sporting project perspective. It's his last big contract, but I just can't imagine a club paying him 200k + a week when he is 30 years old.

For a fee free transfer many clubs would be willing to pay that salary for his talent.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

Disappointing to hear that Newcastle appear to be on the brink of MAJOR investment. Another potential rival for wanted players.

Did we have ITK on Newcastle? Else I would worry for the AC-stick!

 

[dirtyh]

don't get banned now ffs just as things are getting interesting. i'd get rid of anything non-itk sharpish.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

15m doesn't buy a Toby replacement, you'll have to add an additional 40-50m. If he wants to run his contract down, I'd let him, we get him for 1 more year and no need to worry about CB, he'll also be 31/32 this time next year and will probably not get that big pay day he's looking for.

Why? Could've said the same about Ledgeley King. Yet we signed Toby & Vertonghen for not a whole lot more than £15m. They've not done too badly.

It's not always all about how much you spend, it's about what you spend it on.

 

[Dillspur]

Why? Could've said the same about Ledgeley King. Yet we signed Toby & Vertonghen for not a whole lot more than £15m. They've not done too badly.

It's not always all about how much you spend, it's about what you spend it on.

You can't compare what we did 7 and 4 years ago, to today, transfer fees are crazy, Napoli want over 100m for Koulibaly, VVD went for 70m and Maguire is being quoted at over 60m.

There's still value to be found, but the days we spend 11m on a player like Jan is long gone, we can't even get Jack Clarke for that!

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

You can't compare what we did 7 and 4 years ago, to today, transfer fees are crazy, Napoli want over 100m for Koulibaly, VVD went for 70m and Maguire is being quoted at over 60m.

There's still value to be found, but the days we spend 11m on a player like Jan is long gone, we can't even get Jack Clarke for that!

Indeed. But there's literally always someone out there who hasn't been found or picked up yet.

Also, saying that the days of picking up a player like Jan for 11mil are over, isn't exactly correct. Don't forget that Man Utd were paying £30mil for Rio Ferdinand 17 years ago. 10 years passed before we bought Vertonghen, but you'd have thought the days of such a deal were long gone.

 

[LDNYid]

Big thanks to those passing on info - much appreciated.

 

[thelak]

Surprised if Toby is turning his nose up at 165k contract. That in itself is costing him over 100k per week and it goes back a long way too. I can't see him being offered anything that compensates for that amount of loss, and all the time he says he's happy here. Very odd.

Effectively cost him £10m over 2 seasons which would be close to what he gets as a signing on fee I imagine - so seems more to it or maybe what was on offer before was a lot lower

 

[SpursFox]

If the four to six players is accurate, I really wouldn't be surprised if Lo Celso is separate to any potential Eriksen deal. We desperately need another creative outlet. This includes someone deeper - a fit Winks - and an alternative to Eriksen himself. We had this to a degree for a season or two at our recent league height when Lamela was more consistently fit, but since he has been out of it we look terribly unimaginative when Eriksen isn't firing. This was why Grealish was so appealing last summer and still now. Lo Celso is the perfect solution to this issue I feel, and any Eriksen departure might well see another creative type thrown into consideration on top of Lo Celso or similar. As for the deep, central midfield, the resurgence of Sissoko and hopefully a recovered Dier means the former necessity of two new deeper cms has become just one exceptional one being required - Tanguy.

As for full backs, Wan-Bissaka is just too perfect, especially if we are playing four at the back. Almost too good to be true type of signing. Sessegnon seems like he would be more opportunistic with an eye on it being a potential future masterstroke. I think he'd currently fit more into a wing back position, which is probably at odds with how we will be lining up, but he'd be a flexible player who can afford a season or two develop. I am happy with Rose and Davies for another year, though not sure what's going to be happening with Rose. As for central defence, id rather Toby stays even if it means him waving goodbye at the end of next season. We have a lot of important transfer business this summer, id rather it not be complicated by having to get an additional CB. That can be concentrated on next summer when Sanchez and Foyth hopefully fully step up and we can perhaps look for another young promising type signing to be fourth choice CB at that point in time, with Dier as an option if he's still knocking about.

As for attack, we are pretty much covered for the starting line up, but if Lamela, Eriksen and Llorente are off, even if we do bring in a couple of creative types, we might be a little short even with dele is pushed farther forward. With the signings we need to pull off that are of higher importance id accept a cheaper, young prospect here who could step in if needed. Sess could also help out in that regard too if he is signed. But who knows, I am incredibly excited, perhaps foolishly so by the prospect of this summer and the rumblings that are already starting to surface. And I appreciate every drop that I am given; I mean, I always do, but this summer seems to have a little extra spice. Anyway, at the moment anything to take my mind off the nerves that are building for Saturday is a help, so cheers all.

 

[ostrov]

I think the clause becomes void two weeks before the window ends.

This is it. We will have 2 weeks to find a replacement if needed.

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

Don’t think Lo Celso is a direct Eriksen replacement at all. We seem far from sure as to what will happen with Eriksen at this point, yet we seem to be foraging ahead with Lo Celso.

If we want to move to the next level we need a small increase of players of the highest quality. Having both Eriksen and Lo Celso available as options in our team would be a great start and Lo Celso seems to be a player that has been given a massive green light by Poch.

If Eriksen then does end up leaving, at least we would have some form of head start to replacing him and might then use that money on further incomings.

 

[Parkie]

Is no-one else worried that we seem to be looking at non-home-grown players? Our problem last year was not enough in the squad and we are looking now at replacing like for like. We need to recruit English players for at least a couple of positions or we are back to square one: Wan Bissaka and Sessignon help but Lo Celso etc are no use for now unless others are on the way out.