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Spurs’ Transfer Rumors: Shilow Tracey of Ebbsfleet United Could Sign By the End of the Week

By Alexander Balano

Jul 27, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino speaks during an All-Star press conference at Grand Hyatt. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 27, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino speaks during an All-Star press conference at Grand Hyatt. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /
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Here’s the latest edition of Spurs’ Transfer Rumors involving their targets.

There’s a lot to get talk about today so let’s just quickly get into the details. First up, Shilow Tracey could join Spurs by the end of the week as talks between Tottenham and Ebbsfleet United have reached an advanced stage. Next, Demarai Gray who was a target for Spurs has joined Leicester City and could face Tottenham in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The third story involves 25-year-old Senegal striker, Oumar Niasse, and how he’s been scouted by Spurs for half-a-season this year. With an impressive season in 2015, at £15 million, the Senegal international is just another option for Tottenham at the striker position. And finally, Norwich City manager, Alex Neil, is hoping to land Alex Pritchard on a loan deal once he’s healthy enough. These are the rumors below.

RELATED: Spurs’ Transfer Rumors: Is Ezequiel Lavezzi an Option Still?

According to the Daily Mail, Spurs’ first January signing will be another Dele Alli-type of signing. Because of how relatively cheap the transfer fee will be and coming from a lower league, which is the Vanarama National South.

With talks supposedly at an advanced stage between Ebbsfleet United and Spurs here are a couple of things to know about the 17-year-old besides his age:

  • A box-to-box midfielder that can play in both a deeper role or in the #10 position.
  • Shilow has an eye for goal and has regularly found the net at all levels of his development.

Now due to Shilow Tracey’s versatility, he could help play in two positions and provide cover for Dele Alli at attacking mid and Tom Carroll at central midfield. This will finally give Spurs the opportunity to have a backup striker for Harry Kane — Son Heung-min, who will double as a winger too to help Érik Lamela.

If signed, Tracey would be the youngest player on Spurs’ squad. But whether Mauricio Pochettino places him in the first team or the youth academy will be a different matter altogether however.

There were was interest from Spurs, but how much is unknown. A 19-year-old winger, Demarai Gray would have given Érik Lamela some perfect competition as he hasn’t had any to speak of with Andros Townsend no longer a first team player. And even more so with Clinton N’Jie’s injury which will sideline him for a couple of months.

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The key factors for why the Birmingham-born Gray joined Leicester City was because of Claudio Ranieri, the training facilities, playing in the Premier League, where the Foxes are going this season and teaming up with England Under-20 international Ben Chilwell.

An undisclosed fee for four-and-a-half years sees Spurs miss out on a golden opportunity to sign one of England’s brightest and talented youth footballers. But then again, Tottenham signed Clinton N’Jie and despite his injury, N’Jie was already looking like a promising player with when given playing time.

So what is Tottenham really missing out on? Here is Demarai Gray on his style of play.

“I can play left or right and sometimes partner the striker if need be. I like to come in off the left – that’s where I played mainly for Birmingham – and on the right I like to come inside off the flank too. The type of player I am is that I like to link play, have shots on goal and mainly just help the team, which is my job.”

Demarai Gray will be training with Leicester’s first team ahead of the Foxes and Spurs’ third round FA Cup tie on January 10 at White Hart Lane.

During the first half of the season, Spurs have been scouting 25-year-old Senegal striker, Oumar Niasse. At just £15 million and a player who has both pace and strength while also playing up top by himself, Niasse would be a solid investment if Tottenham decided to sign him.

Voted as the best player in the Russian Premier League in 2015 due to his incredible season of 21 appearances, 12 goals and 10 assists — while also helping Lokomotive Moscow finish third and five points behind league leaders CSKA Moscow — Oumar Niasse would be help an already talented Tottenham team get better.

Now due to his wife being based in Manchester, the Senegal international is hoping that a move to the Premier League is possible. But obviously there will be too many teams interested in his services with the likes of Aston Vila, Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, Everton, Manchester United, Monaco and Newcastle United being involved.

During the summer, Norwich City had an eye on Alex Pritchard. The Tottenham academy graduate had a magnificent season with Brentford last term and was going to be a big part of Spurs’ push for a top four finish this term until he was injured at the Euro Under-21 Championships.

With a lengthy injury lay-off coming to an end soon, Canaries’ manager Alex Neil is looking to get another loan move going this month to help bolster his squad.

Because Spurs have some injuries, Pritchard could have a chance to earn some playing time. If, Mauricio Pochettino decides to give Alex Pritchard those opportunities. But if first team minutes are hard to come by with Tottenham, then hopefully the 22-year-old can get them with Norwich City.

Next: Tottenham Player Ratings: Away at Everton

Here’s Alex Murray of Read Norwich on how Alex Pritchard fits with the Canaries:

“Norwich reportedly sees Pritchard as a successor for Canaries’ Hall of Famer Wes Hoolahan, who now rarely sees out a full 90 minutes. Pritchard would add depth to the position and also add some much-needed quality.”