The Tottenham fans in the Transfer Tavern are hoping their side can climb back into the top-four places during the second-half of the season.
Tottenham are yet to rediscover the form that led them to a second placed finish in the Premier League last season, but there have been signs in recent weeks that they are close to returning to their imperious best. At the beginning of the season, Mauricio Pochettino would have told his players that a title challenge was the target for the season. However, the season has not quite gone to plan for the Argentine manager thus far, so he will need to re-assess his objectives and focus on a top-four finish.
The Lilywhites will have to put together a solid run of results to achieve their new objective for the season, but they may have to do it without their marauding left-back Danny Rose, who remains a target for Manchester United, according to reports in The Sun.
According to the report, Mourinho has asked the United board for £50 million to bring Rose to Old Trafford this month, much to the concern of the Spurs fans propping up the bar here.
Speculation regarding Rose’s future has been ever-present in the British media since the England international publicly criticised his current employees last summer.
Despite the ongoing distraction regarding his future off the field, Tottenham will be desperate to keep hold of Rose this month, but they should at least be preparing for the possibility that he may leave the club.
With that being said, here are two full-backs who Tottenham should be monitoring whilst Rose’s future remains unclear.
Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw has endured a rather torrid three and a half year spell at Manchester United due to a combination of injuries and subsequent difficulties to become match fit.
In recent weeks, Shaw has finally enjoyed a run of matches at the left-hand side of United’s back-four.
His re-introduction to the team could suggest that Mourinho has finally warmed to his abilities, but it is more likely that he is merely trying to drum up interest for the 22-year-old this month.
Either way, there is no doubt that Shaw could still develop into one of the most devastating full-backs in the Premier League, so Pochettino should attempt to bring him to the club as part of the deal for Danny Rose.
Ryan Sessegnon
Fulham’s 17-year-old wonderkid has made plenty of headlines in the Championship this season for his performances at left-back and left-midfield – his hat-trick away at promotion-chasing Sheffield United in November was a notable highlight,
Sessegnon has started every single one of Fulham’s matches in The Championship this season, and his performances are beginning to attract the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs.
He is certainly far too young to be considered an immediate replacement for Rose, but given the right opportunities and time to develop, he could become a Premier League star in the future.
Therefore, Tottenham should attempt to bring Sessegnon to the club before he is snapped up by another interested club in the near future.
