Tottenham transfer news: Mauricio Pochettino tells stars to forget about new contracts with Spurs ‘focused on adding players’

Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela both have two years left on their contracts
Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images
Tom Collomosse25 August 2016

Mauricio Pochettino has warned his players to forget about new contracts as he is more interested in improving Tottenham’s squad.

With only six days of the summer transfer window remaining, Pochettino is keen to add players and Spurs are thought to have opened talks with Crystal Palace over a £15million move for Wilfried Zaha.

Tottenham are also keen to bring goalkeeper Pau Lopez to White Hart Lane from Espanyol and have not given up hope of agreeing a deal for Marseille winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou.

That means players like Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Jan Vertonghen – all of whom have only two years left on their contracts – are not top priority for Pochettino.

The Spurs boss said: “We are more focused on adding players. We are focused on trying to improve our squad rather than improve the contracts of our players.”

Eriksen is seeking a substantial pay rise but speaking exclusively to Standard Sport earlier this month, Eriksen’s agent Martin Schoots insisted his client remained “happy” at White Hart Lane.

After overcoming Palace last weekend to register their first win of the season, Pochettino is chasing his first win over Liverpool as Tottenham boss.

Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at White Hart Lane will be Pochettino’s fifth meeting with the Reds since he moved to north London in May 2014, and his record reads two draws, two defeats.

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But Pochettino admits England stars Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Dele Alli are still feeling the effects of a bruising Euro 2016 campaign. To compound Pochettino’s frustration, the trio are likely to be on England duty again in the forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.

Pochettino added: “We had different players involved in the Euros and it is difficult to start to compete again and be at 100 per cent.

“I feel it is too early to start international competitions again but we cannot change the rules. It is difficult for the same players to be involved again but there is nothing we can do as the players want to play for the national team.

“It is very important how we manage the squad. Last week Dele Alli was ill for two or three days and it was impossible for him to train. You cannot kill the player. It is important we manage them to help them compete for the whole season.”

Pochettino hopes to have goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who has a hamstring injury, available again after the international break but does not expect him to feature against Liverpool.

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