Danny Rose has said he would consider offers to leave Tottenham Hotspur and that he wants to return “back up north” before he retires. The 27-year-old left-back also criticised Tottenham for sanctioning the £53m sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City and questioned the club’s lack of transfer activity over the summer.
Rose, a product of the Leeds United academy, joined Tottenham in 2007 and is the club’s longest-serving player. Although sidelined with a medial ligament knee injury since January, Rose has established himself as a key player under Mauricio Pochettino. He is under contract until the summer of 2021 but has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the club, with Manchester United and City both previously credited with an interest.
“I am reaching my peak and have probably only got one big contract left in me,” the England defender told the Sun. “Time is running out and I do want to win trophies. I don’t want to play football for 15 years and not have one trophy or one medal.
“I will say this too, I will play up north. I don’t know exactly when but I will get back up north and play some football somewhere. I am going to make it my priority before I retire to play football up there. I have been away for over 10 years now and I don’t get to see my mum that often. I’m not saying I want out but if something came to me that was concrete, I’d have no qualms about voicing my opinions to anyone at the club.”
Tottenham, who finished second in the Premier League last season, have yet to bolster their first-team squad this summer and Rose does not want them to be left behind by their big-spending rivals. City have spent more than £200m on six new players while United’s outlay is over £140m.
Rose hopes Tottenham do enter the transfer market but avoid signing players “you have to Google and say: ‘Who’s that?’” and target “well-known players”. He name-checked the Everton midfielder Ross Barkley as someone who would provide a “boost” to the Spurs squad.
On a personal level, Rose said he expects a pay rise when it comes to negotiating his next Tottenham contract. “I know my worth and I will make sure I get what I am worth,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer I might have at this level. Anyone who thinks this is primarily for money, that is not the case. But I know what I am worth.”