Tottenham round-up: Barcelona midfielder targeted; Alderweireld contract update; Pochettino reacts to defeat

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According to reports from Spain this weekend, Tottenham are currently involved in a three-way tussle with Premier League rivals Liverpool and Arsenal to sign young Barcelona midfielder Rafinha.

Mundo Deportivo claim that Liverpool are the main contenders at the moment to sign the 24-year-old, with the report claiming that he could facilitate Philippe Coutinho’s move in the other direction.

But it won’t be easy for Jurgen Klopp to secure a deal for the highly-rated Brazilian, with Spurs and Arsenal prepared to go toe-to-toe with the Merseyside club to try and beat them Rafinha’s signing.

Meanwhile, influential Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld has said that there is no update on his contract situation as the 2017-18 Premier League season draws nearer.

Reports from Sky Sports back in December had claimed that the 28-year-old centre-back was to undertake negotiations with the club, but seven months down the line and there has been no progress.

The Belgian’s current contract at White Hart Lane runs until 2019 but, a fortnight before the new season, Alderweireld could kick-off the year on the same contract he had when he joined from Atletico Madrid in 2015; which includes a clause that states he can leave for £25 million next year.

And asked about his situation by Sky Sports on Saturday, the Belgian said: “No news that I know of so nothing…zero.”

Alderweireld has become a huge part of Pochettino’s side since arriving from Atletico, forming a stubborn partnership with fellow countryman Jan Vertonghen in the heart of the Spurs defence.

Finally, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has said that his side’s comprehensive defeat to Manchester City last night was ‘tough’ but insists that it means nothing ahead of the new season.

Goals from John Stones, Raheem Sterling and Brahim Diaz were enough to give the Citizens a comprehensive victory, and it could have been worse had Sergio Aguero not hit the post twice.

But despite a disappointing result the Argentine has said that there were still positives to take from their run-out against a strong City side, saying post-match:

“It’s tough to lose, always, but the priority is not about the result, it’s about getting fit and playing.

“It’s difficult to judge. It’s not a Premier League game. We are working to try to get fit and the objective is to start in the best condition at Newcastle.

“Now, it’s about work. We’ve played tough games in America in testing conditions and the most important thing is to train and get fit.

Defeat against City brings an end to their pre-season tour of the United States, where the Lilywhites defeated Paris Saint-Germain and lost to Roma. Pochettino’s side now face a Wembley test against Juventus.