5 Players for Tottenham Hotspur to Sell in the January Transfer Window

Tottenham Hotspur may not be desperate to add to their squad in the January transfer window, but there remains a pressing need to sell, with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Benoit Assou-Ekotto taking up a significant amount of their wage budget.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino also left the club’s three most expensive signings, Erik Lamela, Roberto Soldado and Paulinho, on the bench for Sunday’s creditable 0-0 draw with Manchester United, playing youth graduates in their prospective places.

With Spurs making up ground on the top four in December, the Argentinian told Sky Sports: “January is not about whether we sign a player or not. I am happy with my squad.”

However, it’s fair to say the north London outfit have rode their luck throughout the campaign, securing all but one of their wins by a single-goal margin, recording a host of smash-and-grab victories and relying heavily on heroics from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

If Pochettino is to strengthen his squad, be it in January or the summer, a huge wasted resource can be unlocked by moving on a number of overpaid fallen stars.

We chart the players Spurs can clear out in the forthcoming transfer window, based on lack of importance to Pochettino and potential financial gains.

Players on the Brink

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Roberto Soldado has spent much of his time on the bench this season

Pochettino has had half a campaign to assess the talent at his disposal and, while some have cemented their starting spots, the former Southampton boss still seems undecided on others.

Andros Townsend, Benjamin Stambouli and Vlad Chiriches were handed renewed hope with starts against United and provided positive performances, while Eric Dier and Kyle Naughton will be hoping for similar opportunities having slipped out of favour.

Younes Kaboul’s situation remains an odd one, having been named club captain before losing his place to summer signing Federico Fazio at centre-half.

Roberto Soldado is arguably the most high-profile of Spurs’ flops, with his shortage of goals continuing in his second season, but as we will examine, there is a more pressing need to oust one of the club’s other three strikers.

5. Mousa Dembele

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Mouse Dembele made a rare appearance against Manchester United

Premier League appearances: 3 (7)

Premier League goals: 0

With Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb preferred in central midfield, Dembele has found himself on the peripheries of Pochettino’s squad.

Just three starts have been handed to the Belgium international, with a substitute’s role more common—a far cry from when Spurs beat off competition to secure his services for £15 million back in 2012.

With just two goals from his 68 Premier League appearances since arriving, the 27-year-old has been a largely frustrating figure, failing to utilise his impressive physical, technical and dribbling attributes.

While Dembele’s Spurs future is far from over, he is sure to attract various suitors if made available, with The Telegraph’s Matt Law suggesting Stoke are interested in securing his signature. 

4. Aaron Lennon

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Aaron Lennon has predominantly been used in the Europa League this season

Premier League appearances: 3 (6) 

Premier League goals: 0

The England winger’s chance seems to have come and gone, having last been used as a late substitute against Crystal Palace on December 6.

Once considered a key player at White Hart Lane, Lennon has made just three starts this season, with Erik Lamela clearly the first-choice option in his position.

Andros Townsend was also preferred on the right against Manchester United, suggesting the former Leeds man now sits third in the pecking order.

At 27, Lennon is hardly on the decline, but with his rapid pace sure to deteriorate in the coming years, other options are surely being considered.

Inter Milan have already been linked with a move to secure his services, although manager Roberto Mancini has since dismissed such suggestions, according to the Guardian. 

While Pochettino will not be urgent to move Lennon on, as with Dembele, he might be tempted if genuine interest is forthcoming.

3. Benoit Assou-Ekotto

Phil Walter/Getty Images

Benoit Assou-Ekotto last played at the World Cup for Cameroon

Premier League appearances: 0 

Premier League goals: 0

Pochettino is seemingly more intent in moving on Assou-Ekotto, with the Cameroon full-back surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane.

Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail reports: “The defender does not even train with the first-team squad these days as he prepares for a move in the January transfer window.”

Ashton reveals that the defender, who was signed for £3.5 million, is still on £40,000 a week despite not playing for Spurs in 18 months, which smacks with irony given he once suggested he only plays football for money in an interview with the Guardian.

Assou-Ekotto was, like Lennon, a regular starter for Spurs and even helped them secure Champions League football back in 2009/10, but he is not needed these days, with Danny Rose and Ben Davies battling it out for the left-back berth.

While, unlike Dembele and Lennon, the 30-year-old is hardly likely to command a transfer fee of note, Spurs will be listening to any offers for the Cameroon international in January.

2. Paulinho

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Paulinho making a rare appearance for Spurs

Premier League appearances: 0 (6) 

Premier League goals: 0

The midfielder’s fall from grace has been a remarkable one, from club-record signing and Brazil international to benchwarmer. 

It’s fair to say Spurs have not exactly extracted value from their £18 million signing in the 18 months since securing his services.

The 26-year-old has not made a single Premier League start this season and sits behind Dembele as Spurs’ fifth choice central-midfielder.

Links with various suitors have already emerged, including Inter Milan according to Calciomercato (via Football Italia), although his former club Corinthians are only interested in a loan move, according to Joe Short's report in the Express.

While Pochettino clearly does not rate the Brazilian, the question is how much Spurs can recoup of the once club-record fee paid in 2013.

1. Emmanuel Adebayor

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Emmanuel Adebayor has not featured for Spurs since early November

Premier League appearances: 9 (1) 

Premier League goals: 1

The striker situation at White Hart Lane epitomises the imbalance of Tottenham’s squad, with two of the club’s highest-paid players failing to deliver while a youngster impresses in their place.

Emmanuel Adebayor began the season as Pochettino’s first-choice striker but scored just once in nine Premier League starts, while Soldado has failed to justify a regular starting berth, also netting just once from six starts and six substitute appearances.

Harry Kane, in contrast, has been a revelation, scoring 15 goals in all competitions, impressing in the Europa League and Capital One Cup to establish himself as Spurs’ no. 1 front man.

Ultimately, neither Adebayor nor Soldado are justifying their hefty wages, but while the latter perseveres, the former has not been seen in a Spurs shirt since early November.

The Togo striker returned to the club on December 15 following leave for “personal reasons,” according to the Mirror, but has not even been named among the substitutes since.

He also upset the White Hart Lane faithful by claiming: “I think it might be better to play away from home at the moment because at least we know beforehand we are guaranteed to be booed because they want their home club to win," as per RTE reports.

Weekly wages of £100,000, according to Forbes’ estimations, more than any of the aforementioned players, make offloading the 30-year-old a priority for Spurs but also equate to the main stumbling block in doing so.