Pochettino admits Tottenham may not make a summer signing

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted the London outfit might not make a summer signing before the transfer window closes. Spurs are known for leaving their transfer business late under chairman Daniel Levy, but there has been a real lack of progress on the recruitment front, drawing the ire from supporters. Pochettino was forced to bear the bad news to fans.

“Last season I told you some numbers, but this season we don’t know. I don’t know if we are going to sign or not. We’re working on that. I cannot tell you if we’re going to sign one, zero or two or three or four. We’re working,” he said.

“It’s true that it’s so close, the transfer window is so close, but the club’s doing everything to help the team and add some players, more quality, and try to help us in the season to achieve what we want.”

The 46-year-old is also frustrated with the decision to bring transfer deadline day forward a number of weeks. Clubs voted 17-3 to move the summer transfer window from the end of August to Thursday, August 9 instead, days before the new season starts.

He said: “If you compare with Europe I think you are in complete disadvantage and sure it does not help the clubs in the Premier League. We are all in the same situation in England. It’s clear that today I don’t know if the rest of the teams are happy with that decision.

“Personally, I think it’s not right. I think it’s right if you agree with all of Europe and all the different countries. In that situation I think it didn’t help or it’s not going to help the Premier League clubs or the clubs in England to have the same possibility to another contender.

 “We are going to compete in the Champions League and to have 20 days less is I think not a thing that is going to help us. But it wasn’t my decision. I never gave my opinion on that.”

Tottenham have yet to make a signing in this window and they’re running out of time. The Lilywhites finished third in the Premier League last season, four points adrift of second-placed Manchester United.

They’ve secured new deals for Pochettino and England centre-forward Harry Kane among others, so this summer hasn’t been an entire waste for Tottenham. There just isn’t anyone popping up on their radar that will improve the squad, and the club will be keen to avoid the panic-buy situation that led to them overpaying for ex-Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko.

Tottenham have a strong squad and look to have held onto key players who had uncertain futures -Toby Alderweireld, Mousa Dembele and Kane – so this summer could have been worse. They have nine more days to try and get a deal over the line.