Danny Rose interview will have hurt Mauricio Pochettino… but the England ace is right and club should break their wage structure to Gareth Bale next summer
Rose says Spurs must target two world-class signings in this transfer window and not players you have to Google
MAURICIO POCHETTINO’S happy ship at Tottenham has been blown apart by two torpedoes from his own defence system.
The Spurs boss was sailing along nicely before being hit by a double-barrelled bombshell.
First, Kyle Walker fired a parting devastating parting shot by quitting for Manchester City.
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Now, Danny Rose looks set to follow him out of the door after unleashing fire and fury on the club like the Seven Sisters Road had never seen in his sensational SunSport interview with my colleague Dave Kidd.
I am guessing this is not what Pochettino meant when he gave both full-backs a licence to attack.
But that did not prevent the pair from giving it to Tottenham both barrels about their prudent approach to salaries and signings, even though they have a new £750m stadium to pay for.
You have to feel sorry for Pochettino.
The amicable Argie has turned both stars into established England and Champions League regulars – only for them to break ranks and turn on him and the club.
People person Poch, renowned for caring for his players like sons, is sure to take their treachery personally.
Especially as he has bought into Tottenham’s cloth-cutting.
But chairman Daniel Levy, whose sensible pay structure and budgeting was acclaimed by many until now, may have to rethink his policies and act quickly if he is to prevent the apathy in the full-back positions from spreading across the entire squad.
How ironic that the man previously renowned for blowing money on players is now being castigated by some for trying to save it.
But with Rose set to follow Walker out the door, Levy is going to have to ensure the rest of his players happy and copper-bottomed committed to the club.
As his marketing team bid to woo investors, sponsors and customers to their new stadium, Levy simply cannot afford to lose any more of his international first-teamers.
That includes Dele Alli, who is sure to be a target for Liverpool if they sell Philippe Coutinho to Bareclona.
A £90-100m bid from the Kop for the England man would be the last thing Spurs need – especially as Alli reportedly supported the Anfield giants as a boy.
He would be the perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp’s style of play, just as he is Pochettino’s.
Levy must do all he can to ensure Alli and the rest of his stars stay at Spurs.
If it means a few more quid on the wage bill then so be it. It would be a small price to pay in the long run.
But with Spurs suddenly looking vulnerable, Levy needs to do more than merely ensuring the current playing squad is retained. He needs to make a statement.
And there would be no bigger one than taking up the first option Tottenham have on buying back Gareth Bale if and when he becomes available.
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Levy still wears the £86m sale of the Welsh wizard to Real Madrid four years ago as a badge of honour.
Buying Bale back would be an even greater one.
The superstar looks set to leave the Bernabeu either this summer or next.
Levy must make sure he is at the front of queue and do whatever it takes to lure him back to Spurs.
It might break the bank and Tottenham’s wage structure and go against the principles of the chairman, who will only buy a player if he knows he could sell him for a profit.
Bale would probably depreciate after his next move due to age.
But walking up the Tottenham High Road to the first game at the club’s new stadium and seeing a photo of Bale plastered on a giant billboard next to Harry Kane would elevate Spurs to a level Walker and Rose could only dream of.
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