Pochettino wary of European suitors

TOTTENHAM head coach Mauricio Pochettino says he will not know whether his side can challenge Manchester City this season until the European transfer window closes.

Spurs are fancied to provide more of a challenge to City, whom they visit in today’s late kick-off, and Liverpool, but uncertainty surrounds several of their key players.

There is a huge question mark over the future of Christian Eriksen, whom Spurs are willing to sell before the September 2 deadline, while Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are also in the final year of their contracts and Danny Rose was told he could leave earlier in the summer.

With clubs on the continent still having another fortnight to conduct any business, Pochettino admits he could be left with “problems”.

With that quartet on the scene, Tottenham look capable of being title contenders this term, having added Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon to their squad.

But the picture could look very different on September 3, which is why Pochettino is reluctant to be too bold.

“We need to assess the circumstances,” he said. “We will see what happens between now and September 2.

“Like we can change our minds, a player can change his, so until September 2 it is difficult to tell you if this will be the bravest group of players.

“The team is still not settled how I expected it to be. We are still working in trying to make sure it is finished come September 2.

“That will be the moment to have a big conversation with the whole squad and settle the principle.”

Spurs have happy recent memories of heading to the Etihad Stadium following their memorable Champions League quarter-final second leg, where, even though they lost the game, they progressed on away goals.

They lost in the Premier League just three days later, though, part of a 15-game winning run for City, who hammered West Ham 5-0 on the opening day of the season.

“It shows how good they are,” Pochettino said. “We know the mentality of Manchester City. To be honest I’m not thinking of that, I am thinking for us to deliver a great show tomorrow. But of course 15 games winning is a massive record.”