Report: Pochettino would sell Dembele, Alderweireld, Rose to begin new era
Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly willing to offload Mousa Dembele, Toby Alderweireld, and Danny Rose to bankroll a more ambitious era at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Argentinian manager urged the club "to take risks" following another season that showed progression, but once again yielded no trophies. Pochettino is aware that spending big while there are huge repayments due for the new stadium is unlikely, but the Guardian's David Hytner understands the manager is willing to offset future transfer fees by selling some big names early in the summer.
Dembele, Alderweireld, and Rose have all played key roles during Spurs' impressive improvement in recent years, but are apparently viewed as expendable by their boss.
Of the three, Dembele's departure could be felt the hardest. The Belgian midfielder is a popular figure in the dressing room, and following a difficult start to the 2017-18 term, began to show his best form after the new year. He appears to be levitating several inches off the ground when he effortlessly glides forward with the ball and has been a huge defensive influence in the middle of the park for Spurs. Pochettino would reportedly let him leave, though, citing his repeated injury problems as a concern ahead of another physical English season.
Alderweireld and Rose's issues are more related to off-the-pitch matters. There has been little progress in the former signing a new deal with the club that would potentially lose the £25-million release clause that can be exercised next summer. Like Dembele, Alderweireld has also been a regular in the treatment room. Rose, meanwhile, irked Pochettino when he openly spoke of a desire to move back to his native north England and, perhaps most harmfully, criticised the club for signing "players you have to Google" days before the 2017-18 campaign began. He has since fallen behind Ben Davies in the left-back pecking order and is understood to be of interest to Everton.
Pochettino hopes such radical changes to his squad will allow him to bring players to north London who can help the outfit win its first major piece of silverware since Juande Ramos' Spurs won the League Cup in 2008.
"You need to be brave. In this type of situation, with a club with our unbelievable fans, being brave is the most important, and to take risks," Pochettino said after concluding the campaign with a madcap 5-4 defeat of Leicester City.
"I think it's a moment the club needs to take risks and if possible work harder than the previous season to be competitive again."