Andre Villas-Boas feels that Tottenham Hotspur did better business in the transfer market than Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United this summer despite losing star man Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, Sky Sports understands.
Spurs brought in seven new players — Christian Eriksen, Étienne Capoue, Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli, Paulinho, Roberto Soldado and Vlad Chiricheș — during the summer transfer window, spending over £100 million in the process.
However, much of the club’s summer spending spree was financed by the sale of Bale for a reported world-record fee of £85.3 million.
“All of us have done good business in the transfer window but Manchester City and us maybe a little bit more than Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool,” said AVB.
“We are happy with what we have done in the transfer window, extremely happy.
“What we have improved on from last season is the individual quality we have on board and all the players are striving with big motivation.”
On Saturday, Spurs’ starting XI featured just three of the club’s new signings (Christian Eriksen, Paulinho and Roberto Soldado), with Erik Lamela making his second consecutive substitute appearance for the North Londoners.
However, a brace from Iceland international midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson was enough to ensure the club all three points at White Hart Lane, propelling Villas-Boas’ side to second-place in the Barclays Premier League table.
Following Saturday’s results, Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool are the only unbeaten teams in England’s top-flight, with the latter set to face Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
Sakho must earn place
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed France international centre-back Mamadou Sakho must earn his place in the Reds’ first-team, with his £18 million price-tag guaranteeing him absolutely nothing at Anfield.
Sakho, 23, joined Liverpool from French moneybags Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day, and has subsequently been dubbed the club’s ‘marquee signing’ of the summer by the Reds’ managing director Ian Ayre.
The France international had been out-of-favour at the Parc des Princes, with Laurent Blanc preferring the all-Brazilian partnership of Alex and Thiago Silva, as €32 million signing Marquinhos (from A.S. Roma) waits patiently for his chance to break into Les Parisiens’ first-team.
“It doesn’t matter one iota. It is not me that puts the price on them,” said Rodgers.
“You judge the player on what he is giving you every single day. That’s why I think it was unfair on the likes of Jordan Henderson.
“Jordan didn’t set the price tag [£16 million] on his head – he came in for a lot of money as a young player.
“He’s shown over time and with confidence that you can be a very good player. For me it doesn’t matter whether it was £1, a free transfer or £50 million.
“You want good players with strong mentalities, players that are willing to be brave on the ball and want to win games – irrespective of the price.”
As previously mentioned, Liverpool — and perhaps Sakho — will travel to Wales to take on Brendan Rodgers’ former club Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Monday.
Betting Odds: Swansea City (5/2) v. Liverpool (6/5); Draw (5/2)
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
