Mauricio Pochettino has promised a hectic final week of the transfer window for Tottenham Hotspur .
After being the only Premier League club not to make a signing, Spurs have smashed their transfer record with the £42m purchase of Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez and also bought back-up keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Reports in France today claimed PSG full-back Serge Aurier has undergone a medical while Tottenham could also offload Kevin Wimmer and Vincent Janssen.
Asked if he was confident more players will be coming in before the window shuts next Thursday, Pochettino said: “Yes I am confident. We are working hard to change the squad and bring more players in. From our chairman Daniel (Levy) and Steve (Hitchen) our chief scout, trying to find the right profile. Yes we are working hard to strenghten our squad. I think it is so exciting now to have ahead the Champions League and Premier League.
We are going to play the last Champions League winner Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. We are so motivated. I think the club is excited too. “We want to strengthen the squad and be more competitive. How many more signings? Maybe three more.
“We need to sign a few more players and a few player need to leave the club. They need to feel they can play more and they want to play more. That is a normal period in every club. I cannot speak about names. Maybe the players who didn't play too much last season want to play more and maybe other clubs can guarantee they play more.”
L'Equipe today claims Spurs have agreed a £23m fee for Aurier but the deal is delayed because the Ivory Coast star has a conviction for assaulting a police officer and was last year denied entry to the UK.
Pochettino said: “That is rumour – we cannot confirm nothing until something happens. Many, many players like always in the media. I cannot confirm nothing. I never speak about rumours because of my full respect to the other clubs and the players involved in negotiatons with us or with other clubs. We will see. I don't like to speak about rumours.”
Tottenham face Burnley at Wembley on Sunday – and the Argentine does not want his players up overnight watching Mayweather v McGregor at 4.15am.
“I think they are professional,” said Pochettino. “We are professional. It is good to record and watch after the Burnley game. If you are going to perform as well and not feel sleepy I think you need to sleep. I think they know. I am sure I will be sleeping.”
Pochettino has backed Harry Kane to be the new permanent England captain.
The Spurs skipper had the armband in the last games while Jordan Henderson, Gary Cahill and Joe Hart have also led Gareth Southgate's team.
The international retirement of Wayne Rooney means the England boss could now appoint a skipper on a long-term basis.
And asked if Kane should get the job, Pochettino said: “Yes but that is not my decision. It is Gareth Southgate's decision. But I think Harry Kane is ready and his character is fantasic to be a captain. It is not my decision but if that happened, I would be very happy if the decision of Gareth Southgate were to give the armband to Harry.”