While the majority of Premier League sides have been spending big in the current transfer window, it’s been an unusually quiet summer at White Hart Lane. Spurs are traditionally active at this time of year and it’s hard to believe that they were the last club to make a purchase ahead of the new season.
Sales have been slow at the same time and new head coach Mauricio Pochettino has plenty of deadwood to offload before the first game of 2014-15 at West Ham. Here are five players that Spurs should be looking to sell this summer.
Younes Kaboul
Spurs are at 4.50 with Betfair for a top four finish at the end of next season but to achieve their aim of Champions League football they have to be ruthless. French international Kaboul returned to the pitch after two seasons that were blighted by injury but he looked off the pace and a little tentative after such a long lay off.
The 28 year old has just one year left on his contract and doesn’t look to justify a place in the starting XI for next season. At best, he can provide cover but that contract situation suggests that Spurs have to cash in right now.
Kyle Naughton
Swansea manager Garry Monk has confessed to an interest in right back Naughton and few Spurs fans would be upset if the former Sheffield United man were allowed to leave. After five years at the club, the defender looks no closer to holding down a first team place and an extended period spent providing cover for Kyle Walker was unconvincing at best.
Some Spurs fans based a slightly unfair opinion of the player on a spell where he played out of position at left back but at 25, it’s best for all concerned if Kyle Naughton were allowed to move on.
Andros Townsend
Some Spurs fans will think it a little unfair that Townsend is included in this list but while 2013-14 was a breakthrough season for the winger, a couple of stunning goals at club and international level tend to mask the fact that the player produces little end product.
The 23 year old has pace and an eye for goal but too often he dribbles into blind alleys while the majority of his efforts on target have little pace and rarely test the keeper. If Tottenham are successful in signing PSV’s Memphis Depay, Andros Townsend will surely be surplus to requirements.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto
From the controversial to the obvious as left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto suddenly finds himself as third choice behind Ben Davies and Danny Rose. The Cameroon international was on loan at QPR last season where Harry Redknapp seemed less than impressed with his contribution and the defender should be first out of the White Hart Lane exit door.
The question is whether Spurs can find a permanent location for the 30 year old or whether another unsatisfactory loan deal is being lined up.
Etienne Capoue
Former Toulouse man Capoue has only spent one season at White Hart Lane but already looks surplus as the new campaign draws closer. His was a strange signing 12 months ago as the club had plenty of options in the holding midfield role and the player looked no better than either Sandro or Mousa Dembele.
An injury hit season meant that Capoue was restricted to 12 league appearances but his versatility may yet save him. The 26 year old can cover at centre back and in a side that tends to suffer more than its fair share of injuries, that may yet persuade Pochettino to retain the Frenchman.
