Lots of Loans from Tottenham Hotspur But Not for Dele Alli

Tottenham Hotspur worked to find minutes for some young developing players during the winter transfer window as not one new signing came. Instead Spurs sent a few players out on loan and had another loan end early. However, the story of the Tottenham Hotspur transfer window was the non-move of Dele Alli.

Reports Varied for Dele and Tottenham

There were certainly some reports out that Dele Alli wanted to go to PSG and join back up with Mauricio Pochettino in Paris. There were reports Dele did not want to go and wanted to stay and fight. There were reports that José Mourinho had sanctioned a move, only to have Daniel Levy block it.

There were reports that if a suitable replacement could be found, then Dele could leave, with Christian Eriksen seemingly the only name anyone could conjure up, despite the need for another homegrown Englishman in an already bloated foreign squad.

In the end, things went down exactly as José Mourinho had told us at the start of the month that nothing was going to happen, that Dele was going nowhere, and no one was going to be coming in. Maybe if Dele can find his health, his form, and some playing time, he is the new signing Spurs have been seeking all along.

He is young, still only 24-years of age – same as Giovani Lo Celso – he is English and homegrown, and is signed for three more seasons until 2024 already. Maybe hoping Dele finds fitness and form is wishful. Maybe hoping Mourinho plays him is wishful. Regardless, both have long term contracts and eventually something has to give, why not hope for a positive outcome?

Gedson Fernandes Ordeal is Over

We asked during the summer if the move for Gedson Fernandes was a panic move by Spurs. Based on the fact the young Portuguese midfielder did not make the Europa League squad and only featured 14 time in a year, the move was definitely desperate.

Maybe there is a fantastic footballer in there and Galatasaray will help find it. Unfortunately, Gedson’s time at Spurs will be remember as him being the wrong Fernandes signed in the January 2020 transfer window. Brought on as cover at a time of need, he probably should have gone back before the season once the squad was healthy, but hindsight is 20/20.

Paulo Gazzaniga Found a Way Out?

After filling in for about a third of the season last year for an injured Hugo Lloris, Paulo Gazzaniga found himself on the outside looking in at the keeper position with Tottenham this season. Joe Hart was brought in and handed the number two position. Whether it was because Hart was English or simply personal preference no battle for time ensured, Hart just got the call.

Paulo was able to get a move to Elche CF in La Liga. Gazzaniga had 25 appearances for Spurs last season, conceding 33 goals in that time. This season he has not made a single appearance, only making the bench twice as the back-up goalkeeper in the FA Cup. It is unclear at this time if Elche have the option to buy, but Gazzaniga is on the books at Spurs until the end of the 2022 season, so one would think, Spurs are hoping to eventually make this deal permanent.

Unfortunately for Tottenham, two players leaving did not make any room.

The worst part of the entire situation is even with Gedson and Gazzaniga both leaving Spurs, is that it does not open up anything in terms of places in the squad. Gedson and Gazzaniga were both already on the outside looking in to begin with. So despite the fact both were moved on this winter, Joe Rodon is still in theory on the outside of the Europa League squad, or someone is anyway.

Youth on Loan Movement

Tottenham did manage to get a few other loans across the finish line. We all know that Jack Clarke had already been loaned to Stoke City and made his debut at the weekend. Tottenham moved on permanently or loaned 11 different players this window between the ages of 18 and 23.

Some of the moves, like Anthony Georgiou and Maurizio Pochettino were permanent moves away from the club. Other moves, such as the loan of Harvey White and the re-loaning of Troy Parrott are not permanent. For both White and Parrott it is hopefully the opportunity they both need to find some real playing top at the senior level on a team.

We saw with Parrott he was not really ready for the Championship yet and needs to play to improve. The same is true of Harvey White, as neither he nor Parrott are going to make great strides playing the Premier League 2. While League One is not the bright lights, it is real football and hopefully will lead to real consistent minutes for them both.

Loans away from Club

Jack Clarke – Stoke City – Championship

Paulo Gazzaniga – Elche CF – La Liga

Gedson Fernandes – Benfica recall to Galatasaray – Turkish  Süper Lig

Malachi Fagan Walcott – Dundee FC – Championship

Harvey White – Portsmouth – League One

Troy Parrott – Ipswich – League One

Kazaiah Sterling – Morton – Championship

Brandon Austin – Orlando City SC – MLS

Jack Roles – Stevenage – League Two

Shilow Tracey – Cambridge United – League Two 

Judbril Okedina – Cambridge United – League Two

Permanent Transfers

Maurizio Pochettino – Watford – Championship

Jonathan De Bie – RWDM – Proximus League

Anthony Georgiou – AEL Limassol – Protathlima Cyta (Greece)