SPURS STARS STAY
Pochettino’s promise
MAURICIO POCHETTINO has promised Tottenham fans there is ZERO chance of any top stars leaving.
Paris St-Germain are said to be keen on Dele Alli and Eric Dier is allegedly on Chelsea and Bayern Munich’s radar.
But the Spurs boss says he is not worried about the speculation because both players have signed long-term deals this season, along with Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose and Jan Vertonghen.
Pochettino said: “The rumours have no sense because it is impossible for anyone to sign them. They are players who are in our plans today, tomorrow and for the future.
“We are very calm about the rumours because they all extended their contracts four or five months ago – there are plenty of pictures of them with me.
“They are the players we believe will play not only in the present but in the future.”
Pochettino’s confidence is a big contrast to Arsenal’s worries over Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
The contracts of both Gunners stars ® have been allowed to run down to 18 months and boss Arsene Wenger has said he would rather see them leave on frees than be sold before next season.
Dier was linked with a move away amid claims he felt marginalised by not being first choice in any position.
But Pochettino, whose side entertain Burnley tomorrow, insisted it was more important to get game time.
He said: “He’s 22 years old, he’s a player that arrived here as a 19-year-old and he is playing more than 40 games every season.
Improve
“This season we have played 16 games in the Premier League, he was in the starting XI 12 times.
“Like all the younger players, sometimes you can use him in a different position but that is important for every coach.
“The most important thing for the young players is to be in the starting XI and play and try to improve with regular games. I never heard from him that he wasn’t happy.”