Tottenham are gearing up for two first-team friendlies in one day this Saturday, and away from the pitch, Thomas Frank’s busy Lilywhites continue their summer recruitment plans.
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Spurs announced that they will be taking on both Wycombe Wanderers in a behind-closed-doors encounter at 11am tomorrow before their trip to Kenilworth Road, with their later clash against Luton Town kicking off just four hours later.
The two matches will give a number of first-team players much-needed match action, with the squad set to be split into two groups. Earlier this week, Frank explained this decision in an official statement which confirmed their additional game against Wycombe.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
“We wanted an extra game in our schedule to give as many players as many match minutes as possible, in order to put them in the best position, physically,” said Frank.
“We will play two even, strong teams, and they will play between 60 and 75 minutes, maybe more. By the end of Saturday, 22 players will have played a lot of match minutes, and they will be in a very good place before we go on tour.”
As Tottenham gear up for two 90-minute contests in quick succession, chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange maintain the club’s pursuit of new signings before deadline day on September 1.
Reliable media sources claim that Brentford striker Yoane Wissa remains a target for Spurs, and they’re in ongoing talks for the Congolese who scored 20 goals in all competitions under Frank last campaign.
However, Newcastle United are also in talks for Wissa, and they’re poised to submit a new bid in an attempt to win the race for Frank’s former star (Sky Sports).
While Frank faces stiff competition for the 28-year-old, as things stand, it looks as if Spurs are the only team competing for Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White.
Morgan Gibbs-White agrees "in principle" to join Tottenham
The 25-year-old was on the verge of a move to north London a fortnight ago, with Spurs even scheduling a medical for Gibbs-White on July 11 as they prepared to pay his £60 million release clause (BBC).
However, Forest then unceremoniously blocked the transfer – threatening both Tottenham and the player’s agent with a letter of legal action against them (Sky Sports). Nuno Espirito Santo’s side objected to how Spurs found out about Gibbs-White’s ‘confidential’ clause whilst accusing them of ‘tapping up’ the player too, and this tense stalemate remains ongoing with Levy hoping for a breakthrough (Fabrizio Romano).
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, sharing an update on the situation for TBR Football, Gibbs-White has agreed “in principle” to join Tottenham, and Forest appear resigned to eventually losing the England international.
This is because Evangelos Marinakis and his recruitment team are actively pursuing replacements, with talks ongoing over a deal for Man City’s James McAtee.
Spurs are not giving up on signing Gibbs-White and the attacking midfielder remains their absolute priority. Forest were also hoping that City would come back in for Gibbs-White to spark a potential bidding war, but Pep Guardiola and co have “moved on” – giving Frank a clear run.
If the former Wolves star wishes to push through a move to N17, Sky Sports have claimed that Gibbs-White has the option of threatening Forest with legal action of his own for breach of contract.
Alternatively, Tottenham could offer to pay a larger fee to Forest in an attempt to loosen their stranglehold on Gibbs-White and finally seal the deal.