Tottenham Hotspur Links: Laurent Depoitre Rejects Gent’s Contract Extension Offer
It’s a four-story edition of Tottenham Hotspur Links today. It involves two transfer rumors, a loan player update and good news regarding an injured player. Let’s take a look these stories.
Up first, Laurent Depoitre has rejected K.A.A Gent’s contract extension offer amidst Tottenham showing interest. Next, Spurs are looking to sign Walsall left-back, Rico Henry. The third story has Championship club, Rotherham, looking to keep 21-year-old, Grant Ward, with the team until the end of the season in May. And lastly, Ryan Mason feels that he could come back sooner rather than later and make it in time for Tottenham’s December 19th game against Southampton. Time to get to the links.
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Last month, Tottenham were reportedly interested in signing Belgian striker, Laurent Depoitre to help add more firepower at the striker position. Of course, K.A.A. Gent weren’t interested in selling the then-26-year-old (who is now 27) because Depoitre means too much to their success this season due to scoring seven goals in 24 appearances. Well, it turns out that Spurs’ interest seems to have gotten to Depoitre as he has decided to reject a contract extension.
This has caused Gent’s managing director, Michel Louwagie, to put Laurent Depoitre up for sale. Louwagie said: “We have offered him the highest salary of all the Gent squad, but he will not accept. Basically, we let him go this summer.”
Selling Laurent Depoitre this summer is a smart move. He won’t leave in January when Gent need him for the rest of the season and the Belgian club get some money in return before his contract expires in the summer of 2017.
If Tottenham can sign Depoitre, Mauricio Pochettino would be getting a striker who stands at 6’3″ and would be a good target man with Harry Kane as the secondary striker. A transfer fee is said to be at £14 according to the Het Nieuwsblad.
- Tottenham lead the race to sign Walsall left-back Rico Henry
- [via Daily Express]
Tottenham already have a starting left-back in Danny Rose, they also have a capable backup in Ben Davies. So why are they interested in signing 18-year-old left-back Rico Henry from League One club Walsall? One answer: It’s another Dele Alli-type signing.
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These signings could now become a staple of Tottenham’s winter transfer policy. Sign a young 18-year-old player from League One who is doing good and if both teams and the player agrees on a transfer, loan him back to his current club (Walsall in this case) and by the end of the season Rico Henry will be 19 and fighting for the backup left-back spot. He can also play as a left midfielder so he adds even more value, again like Dele Alli.
According to the Daily Express a Spurs insider was quoted as saying this: “Henry is perfect for the Spurs side that Mauricio Pochettino wants to build – and the lad can play left midfield as well so [he] has real versatility. It’s going to be a question of the right price because everyone is watching the situation carefully.”
Tottenham are willing to spend as much as it takes to sign Henry who recently signed a new five-year contract in October. Dean Smith touched on the transfer fee needed to pry Henry away from Walsall last month while he was still the manager: It’s going to take a hell of a lot of money to take Rico away from this football club,” Smith said. “Every player has a price don’t they? We all know that. But it would take a very big offer and I’m not sure he’d want to go, at the moment, as well.”
Championship club, Rotherham, are speaking with Tottenham about keeping the 21-year-old midfielder Grant Ward until the end of the season. Keeping Ward away on loan would be beneficial for both clubs. For one, Spurs would have a club who may be interested in signing Grant Ward once this season is over. Secondly, if Mauricio Pochettino feels that Ward can help out next season he can return to the club and add even more youth and depth to the team.
So far this season, Grant Ward has made 16 appearances for Rotherham’s first-team, the second most appearances he’s made while out on loan — 23 appearances for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer and 11 appearances for Coventry City in League One. The 16 appearances for the Millers right now could become much higher now that Rotherham is keen on retaining Ward until May.
- Ryan Mason could make a quick return from injury
- [via London Evening Standard]
Based on the severity of Ryan Mason’s ankle injury at the time and wearing a precautionary walking boot following Tottenham’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see Mason be out until the New Year at the earliest. But now, it seems that Spurs could be getting the central midfielder back even sooner — like say December 19 against Southampton.
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It’s very optimistic even for Ryan Mason to make a quick return after only suffering the injury on November 29, nine days and two games ago. If Mason can return to full fitness by December 19 against Southampton then that’s obviously great news. If not, then it’s best to continue rehabbing and being 100 percent healthy instead of rushing back too soon only to get injured once again.