Tottenham round-up: Pepe up for sale; Pochettino charged; Adams swoop encouraged

By Sam Leveridge

Target may be available

Nicolas Pepe has caught the eye with his red hot form in Ligue 1, so much so that The Times linked Spurs with an interest in October. Now Lille sporting director sporting director Luis Campos has told Telefoot that he could be on the market.

It comes after Goal claimed that the 23-year-old would cost any potential suitors as much as £72 million. That may be out of Spurs’ price range, but with this admission the price tag may drop.

They are not the only interested party and may face competition to seal the signature of the Ivory Coast international, but he would be a strong alternative to Harry Kane.

Pochettino apologises to Dean

Mauricio Pochettino has accepted a charge of improper conduct from the FA after he confronted referee Mike Dean at Burnley’s Turf Moor at the weekend and also apologised, Goal report.

The Spurs’ boss was furious as he faced up to the referee on the field after the final whistle, but has now expressed his regret over the incident.

All that remains to be seen is what punishment the FA will decide upon for the coach and his backroom staff, with a touchline ban and a hefty fine likely.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Che Adams of Birmingham City moves away from Gary O’Neil during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium on February 12, 2019 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Championship striker linked

Tottenham were reported to have sent scouts to watch Birmingham striker Che Adams earlier this season by TEAMtalk, and now a fan favourite of the Blues says that he could see the youngster at the Tottenham Stadium.

“Che Adams is a real rough diamond for Birmingham,” former Birmingham City striker Michael  Johnson told The Express. “I think that there are a few different types of striker in the Premier League and I don’t think he would fit in at a team that isn’t about physically and likes to play their way through to goal slowly. I could see Adams at Tottenham, with the way they play.”

With 21 goals and three assists in 33 games this season, it is easy to envisage why Spurs could be interested in monitoring the former Walsall man.