Tottenham Hotspur Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of January 5
With the transfer window now open across European leagues, Spurs can finally do some actual business.
If manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to tweak his squad, now is the time.
Despite the fact that the January window is already several days old, Spurs have made no obvious moves.
It's possible that Spurs' famous win over Chelsea has convinced Pochettino that his team needs little work.
Typically, though, rumours abound, and Spurs are reported to be keen to make several purchases and sales.
This article will be updated to document the latest transfer news and rumours throughout the week.
Last updated: Wednesday, January 7
Mystery Emenike Bid Rejected
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Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim has confirmed that the club have rejected a €10 million bid for their Nigerian striker Emmanuel Emenike.
"Emenike offer came, they gave 10 million Euros. However, I trust him. I therefore rejected the offer."
While there is no concrete evidence to suggest that the bidding club was Spurs, the Independent and Express newspapers are both carrying the story.
Emenike has an excellent scoring record for Fener and was even more prolific at Spartak Moscow where he plundered 36 goals in 42 league games.
If Spurs were to bring in Emenike, he would provide an interesting option from the bench but would be unlikely to unseat Harry Kane. At 27, he will also fall in value rather than rise which makes this an unlikely story to come to fruition.
Spurs Reportedly Close to Ntep Deal
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In the summer, Spurs pursued Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin but were rebuffed and turned to Benjamin Stambouli instead. Villarreal defender Mateo Musacchio was also reportedly a target before Spurs signed Sevilla's Federico Fazio.
With the January pursuit of Saido Berahino also seemingly destined to end in failure as Liverpool enter the market, Spurs have reportedly turned their attention to Rennes forward Paul-Georges Ntep (H/T HereIsTheCity.com).
Ntep, a 22-year-old French striker, has some broad similarities to Berahino.
His pace is his most important asset, particularly in wide areas, but he has also demonstrated a capacity to score a wide variety of goals.
With six goals and five assists in Ligue 1 this season, Ntep is clearly blossoming. The combination of his pace and skill with Harry Kane's intelligence could form a brilliant partnership.
Berahino Move on Again?
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In the last 12 months, Saido Berahino has been one of England's rising stars. Selected by Roy Hodgson for the first time in November, Berahino did not make his debut but his continued impressive form for West Brom means he will surely get another chance.
His four-goal performance against Gateshead in the Baggies' 7-0 FA Cup third round win came just days after he ended a two-month scoreless streak against West Ham.
Berahino's return to form as the transfer window opens has fuelled the already significant transfer rumours around him.
Liverpool and Spurs have been the most seriously linked with his signing and, according to the Independent, new Baggies manager Tony Pulis is keen to sell.
If Berahino is available for £20 million, as the Independent suggests, both clubs will be able to afford him.
It will likely come down to which club needs him more. Liverpool are desperate to restore the strike power that saw them so close to winning last season's Premier League. After their heavy spending in recent transfer windows though, the club may be unwilling to splash out again.
Spurs have not spent heavily in recent years so their coffers could well be better stocked than Liverpool's this January. The club does have to consider its wage bill though and will likely only move for a new striker if Emmanuel Adebayor can be moved on.
Paulinho Not Keen to Move on
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Tottenham's Brazilian midfielder Paulinho has struggled for form throughout his first 18 months in England.
A star with Corinthians in Brazil and a Club World Cup winner against Chelsea in 2012, Paulinho has been unable to hold a regular starting spot at White Hart Lane.
His lack of first-team action had led to speculation that he would seek an exit in January, but the man himself has put an end to the tittle-tattle.
He told the club's official website that his substitute appearance against Chelsea made him happy: "It was good for me to help the team from the bench and it was important to get a good 30 minutes under my belt. I’m happy, not just to get on the pitch but for the team to win."
Paulinho has shown glimpses of his obvious quality at Spurs, and with Pochettino's knack for getting the best out of his players, north London might be the best place for him to make the most of his talent.
Rabiot Rumours as Clear as Mud
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PSG's young midfielder Adrien Rabiot has been rumoured to be available on loan in this transfer window.
When asked about potential moves, Les Parisiens boss Laurent Blanc was coy, saying to reporters, "There will surely be some moves, but it is too soon to speak about specific things."
French newspaper Le Parisien reports that Blanc is undecided about Rabiot's future (h/t InsideFutbol.com).
Rabiot is a talented holding midfielder that brings the ball forward well and passes intelligently, but a loan deal would be of little value to Spurs.
If the deal included an option to buy, it could be worth Pochettino taking the chance, but Rabiot is neither likely to unseat Spurs' first-choice midfielders nor prove an adequate replacement for African Cup of Nations-bound Nabil Bentaleb.
Lennon Midlands Bound?
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Aaron Lennon's Tottenham career is seemingly over. Spurs' most capped current player, Lennon has been sidelined this season and failed to impress Pochettino.
According to the Sunday People (h/t Steve Bates of the Daily Mirror), new West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Pulis sees Lennon as a valuable weapon in his battle against relegation.
John Cross of the Daily Mirror says that Leicester City and West Ham United are also keen on signing the former England winger.
Spurs may be able to spin this frenzy of interest into a seven-digit transfer fee, but most reports suggest that Lennon will move for £6-7 million.
Champions League a Must for Depay Move
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PSV winger Memphis Depay, a summer transfer target for Spurs, has reportedly told clubs he will not make a move to a club that cannot guarantee Champions League football this summer.
Voetbal International (h/t Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express) quotes Depay as saying, "Maybe I'll will play in the Champions League next season with PSV, maybe it will be with another beautiful club."
Depay is a brilliant talent and has shone as PSV's star man in the Eredivisie and in Europe this season.
He looks to have the quality to make a real difference for any team lucky enough to sign him.
Unfortunately, at least until the summer, it seems that team won't be Spurs.
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