Tottenham: Pochettino dismisses Barcelona links; winger wanted; Bundesliga star shrugs off speculation

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A good week was capped off in style by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as a 2-0 victory over Championship side Aston Villa safely saw the North Londoners into the fourth round of the FA Cup, thanks to goals from Ben Davies and Son Heung-Min which came in the final 20 minutes. Monday morning sees a swift return to prospective transfer business however, and following the club’s exploits in recent seasons, it isn’t just the players at White Hart Lane that have dominated media speculation.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino, increasingly touted as one of the brightest managerial prospects in the Premier League and indeed the world, none more so than after Spurs’ 2-0 win over Chelsea last week, has been linked with a number of high profile jobs including the position of managing Argentina’s National Team, and more notably the hot-seat at Catalan giants Barcelona, currently occupied by former Celta de Vigo manager Luis Enrique.

The Argentine led the North Londoners to a top-four finish last season after a late capitulation saw them miss out on the title, but his side is expected to challenge for the coveted silverware during the second half of the season after ending Chelsea’s unbeaten record in their previous league outing.

Despite signing an improved deal at White Hart Lane back in May, according to the London Evening Standard, recent reports claim that Pochettino has caught the eye of the Blaugrana hierarchy, who may be prepared to replace Enrique with the 44-year-old Spurs boss.

But Pochettino subsequently laughed off any speculation of leaving the North London club in his BBC post-match interview following the win over Aston Villa, in saying he was “born with a bull in his arm”.

The Argentine was referring to his time with Barcelona’s city rivals RCD Espanyol, where he spent two years as a player before becoming manager back in 2009, the first job in his coaching career.

With such speculation out of the window over the manager’s future, there was plenty more to digest in the media focusing on the club’s players, and summer signing Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, who has found himself on the periphery since his move from French giants Olympique de Marseille is a wanted man, with talkSPORT claiming that Serie A heavyweights AS Roma are monitoring the Frenchman’s situation.

N’Koudou has found opportunities limited at White Hart Lane, but like fellow summer signing Moussa Sissoko, he has shown promising signs that he is beginning to establish himself in North London after a strong performance in the FA Cup triumph over Aston Villa. But with substantial competition for places in the league, the winger is thought to be weighing up his options as he seeks regular football.

Pochettino is thought to be reluctant to sell the 21-year-old, but a loan deal could perhaps be agreed for the youngster, who has made 11 appearances thus far this season and become a popular figure with the Spurs faithful for his exciting cameo appearances on the wing.

TalkSPORT claim that Roma are the favourites to tie off any kind of deal for the Frenchman, quoting Italian outlet Calciomercato,  but it is uncertain at this stage whether or not Tottenham are prepared to let the youngster leave.

Elsewhere, a player recently linked with a move the other way is Hoffenheim star Mark Uth. The 25-year-old has netted five goals in ten Bundesliga appearances this season as he enters the final 18 months of his contract, which has seen him linked with a move away, with Spurs and Southampton both thought to be interested parties in England.

The man himself has spoken to German outlet Kicker, and in the report quoted by talkSPORT, although the forward admitted he is flattered by such links, it is clear that he has dismissed the talk as mere speculation since an enquiry is yet to be made by either club.

“I’ve read it, but there’s not too much to say. There’s no interest,” Uth said.

“It’s definitely recognition, but I want to focus on football now, and be successful with Hoffenheim.”.

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