Tottenham MUST sell to buy in January transfer window admits Mauricio Pochettino - The Mirror

"Impossible" to add new faces without making room first says Tottenham boss looking to shift several squad players

Mauricio Pochettino admits Tottenham have to sell before they can buy.

Boss Pochettino, the only Premier League manager now to add to his squad in the summer window, confessed it will be “impossible” for Spurs to make signings this month too, without making space first.

The north Londoners, pumping fortunes into the construction of a state-of-the-art stadium opening soon on the site of their traditional White Hart Lane home, are keen to offload a string of players including Fernando Llorente, Vincent Janssen, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama.

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Pochettino's men went second in the Premier League with Tuesday's 3-0 thumping of Cardiff, are into a Champions League last-16 tie next month against Borussia Dortmund and are about to play Chelsea in a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final.

Speaking before they start this season's FA Cup campaign away to League Two's Tranmere Rovers on Friday night, he said: “In case we don’t sell players, it’s impossible to bring players [in]. And to find the capacity to bring [players in].

“Of course, we are going to create again the system to work in the last part of the season in the best way, trying to give our best for this club.”

The 46-year-old also addressed the idea of not making any winter-window signings last month.

He said: “I would not be disappointed. I know very well that January is always difficult.

“In the same way, if you find some player, look what happened to different players that arrive in January. Last season. It takes time to understand and to perform, to fit with the team.

“Sometimes it’s better not to sign if you don’t find the right player. Sometimes it’s better for the team spirit. But not in general.”